This issue has been planned as a result of the Footsteps survey carried out last year. ‘Pressures on the family’ was one of the most common subjects requested by readers. Families can be seen as one of the building blocks of society, yet they have never before been under so many different kinds of pressure. In this issue we look at some of those pressures – economic migration to find work, the results of HIV/AIDS on children, globalisation and stress. We have covered the subject of domestic violence in particular because this is such a widespread issue, yet one that is seldom brought into the open and discussed. We have also included some really positive and practical ideas for families to enjoy together.
We all belong to families, some closer than others. People who have lost family members can sometimes turn their loss into more positive outcomes, either by considering how to support others who have also lost loved ones, or by developing closer relationships with other families.
Isabel Carter