Partners & supporters

National Family Week would not be possible without the support received from our commercial sponsors, media partners and a whole host of government and not-for-profit organisations including charities, schools and community and faith groups. The national initiative has also received the support of an ever-increasing number of celebrities.

For a list of all our current supporters click here.


Endorsements

Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister I am pleased to endorse National Family Week and its aim of promoting and celebrating family life in Britain. I applaud the organisers for creating this important new initiative, and I look forward to joining with many other families across the country to underline the importance and value of family life in the UK.
Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister

 

David Cameron MP, Leader of the Conservative Party I am delighted to welcome National Family Week. It's full of practical ideas, and it will be great to see organisations from all sections of society join together to celebrate family life. There is nothing more important to families than the strength of their relationships, and the focus in National Family Week on allowing families to spend quality time together reflects that fact. The Week is a great idea, and I look forward to its success.
David Cameron MP, Leader of the Conservative Party

 

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York My family, especially Beatrice and Eugenie are the most important part of my life and I try to spend as much time with them as possible. I believe the key to happy family life is communication; families should listen and talk to each other as much as they can. I fully support National Family Week and think it is a great way of bringing families together.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

 

Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland I am delighted that Scotland is taking part in National Family Week. Families should be recognised for the role they play in today's society. This week will focus on all aspects of family life and should encourage us all to provide a stimulating and supportive home environment for all our children.
Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland

 

Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families I am pleased to offer my support to National Family Week. Families are the bedrock of society and this event will provide an opportunity to celebrate and value family life, in all its many forms, in the UK.
Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

 

Jane Hutt, Education Minister for Wales National Family Week is a fantastic way of highlighting the importance of family life. The week encourages families to value the time they spend together by taking part in fun activities which everyone can enjoy. I am pleased to support such an excellent initiative.
Jane Hutt, Education Minister for Wales

 

Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats This is a fantastic initiative that encourages families to spend more time together. Fun, quality time is so important for family life and it's great to see a whole week dedicated to celebrating this. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and they are incredibly important, providing a loving and nurturing home for children to grow up in.
Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

 

Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport Sport is a great social activity so it's natural that it should play a big part in National Family Week. I've always loved playing football with my sons and now we all get together to have a kick-about with my grandchildren. It's a fantastic way to keep a close bond and aside from all the positive things you get from sport, it's great fun! The National Family Week Sports Day is a fantastic idea and I hope it is embraced across the UK as a great opportunity for people to come together and get active.
Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport

 

Hugh Robertson, Shadow Minister for Sports and the Olympics There are many families who want to spend more quality time together but struggle to find something that will appeal to all age groups. The Family Week Sports Day provides that opportunity so I hope that as many people as possible will take part and, as a result, find something new and fun that all the family will enjoy.
Hugh Robertson, Shadow Minister for Sports and the Olympics

 

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Highlighting the significance of family life and encouraging people to spend quality time with their loved ones is very important. I am committed to supporting parents in London and making sure young people have better opportunities. I hope National Family Week is a great success.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

 

James Cleverly AM, Ambassador for Young People, London Assembly National Family Week is a terrific opportunity to celebrate the benefits and reinforce the importance of a family life. Too often, families are overlooked by Government or downtrodden in the media, with parents taking the brunt of some of society's failures. National Family Week will go a long way towards redressing the balance and ensuring that good, loving, supportive families get the recognition they deserve and the support they need.
James Cleverly AM, Ambassador for Young People, London Assembly

 

John Merry, Labour Lead Member for Children and Young People for the LGA National Family Week is the perfect opportunity for councils large and small to showcase their fantastic and wide ranging work to support families and their communities, a lot of which often goes unnoticed. I would strongly recommend councils across the country get involved and help ensure National Family Week is a tremendous success.
John Merry, Labour Lead Member for Children and Young People for the LGA

 

Maria Miller, Shadow Minister For the Family Families are at the heart of the British way of life. I am pleased to be able to support National Family Week, which will throw an important spot light onto the critical role our families have in shaping our lives.
Maria Miller, Shadow Minister For the Family

 

David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside The family in all its guises, is the building block of community and society. A holistic approach to supporting the family is vital for a functioning and effective approach to nurturing, parenting and fulfilling adulthood. Supporting the family through the transitions of modern life is not solely the job of government, but of a civil society made up of the extended family, friends and neighbours. This is the glue which enables active citizenship to hold community together, and see those facing the biggest challenges through a time of global recession and unprecedented change. Like all good families, we should be there through thick and thin and see this as a task for us all, as we are in this together in this global village.
David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside

 

Amanda Holden, Britain's Got Talent Judge I really hope that National Family Week encourages people to take a moment to realise the importance of the people they have around them. Even if you do not have any direct family, friends and colleagues can be great sources of strength. I am in full support of this national initiative and the message that it is spreading.
Amanda Holden, Britain's Got Talent Judge

 

Sir Terry Wogan, Radio and Television Broadcaster My Family are the most important thing to me. I am so lucky to have such a marvellous wife, children and grandchildren. Although I have always worked a lot, the only thing that has got me through long days in the studio is the thought of getting home to my wife and children for a family dinner. I think National Family Week is a great initiative that will encourage families to come together and realise how important every part of the family is.
Sir Terry Wogan, Radio and Television Broadcaster

 

Esther Rantzen, CBE, Broadcaster, Campaigner and Chair of The Family Commission I am delighted to support National Family Week which celebrates family life and serves as a timely reminder that families are the cornerstone of society and should be a top priority for all of us. For more than twenty years I have heard the children who ring ChildLine tell us that family life is crucial to their happiness, and their greatest sorrow is when those relationships which mean so much to them are broken or disrupted. By working with 4Children on the new Family Commission, I want to help ensure that families of all backgrounds and sizes get the help they need and are able to make positive choices about the future.
Esther Rantzen, CBE, Broadcaster, Campaigner and Chair of The Family Commission

 

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan As proud parents to four wonderful children, we know how important family is in all its forms. With busy schedules, it can be difficult to find enough quality time to spend together, but it is this time that is the most precious and rewarding to us. We feel lucky to have met so many extraordinary people through our work and have learned that every family is unique and inspirational in its own way. We look forward to the UK's first National Family Week and joining families of all shapes and sizes in celebrating the treasured institution that is The Family.
Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan

 

Antony Worrall Thompson, Celebrity Chef I'm absolutely delighted to support National Family Week. Balancing my role as a husband and father of two with a hectic schedule is never easy, but being a family man is so rewarding. Cooking can be a really fun family activity, and sitting down to eat a meal is a great way for a family to spend quality time together. I look forward to taking part in National Family Week and encouraging others to do the same.
Antony Worrall Thompson, Celebrity Chef

 

Sally Gunnell OBE, Olympic Gold Medalist Encouraging families to get active is a subject very close to my heart, so I am thrilled and delighted to be able to show my support for National Family Week and if by showing my support this encourages other families to consider their lives, then even better! The family is so important to the development of our social culture. Growing up, if I hadn't received the love and support from my family who knows if I would of achieved what I did. Now, being a mum to three boys I want to give them the same.
Sally Gunnell OBE, Olympic Gold Medalist

 

Rebecca Adlington, Double Olympic Swimming Champion Without the support and encouragement of my family, I may not be where I am today. My parents and sisters have always been there for me to take me to early morning training, come to my competitions, help me stay positive and give me the love and strength I needed to take me to the Olympics. Family is so important and National Family Week is a great reminder to all of us that we should be thankful for our relationships and always put aside special time to spend together.
Rebecca Adlington, Double Olympic Swimming Champion

 

Professor Tanya Byron, Clinical Psychologist, Broadcaster and Author Families form the basis of a strong society. Families are places of love, of fun, of learning, of togetherness... I am so pleased to endorse National Family Week and will do all I can to promote and celebrate the rich diversity of family life the UK.
Professor Tanya Byron, Clinical Psychologist, Broadcaster and Author

 

Jo Frost, Family and Childcare Expert National Family Week is the first of many to come in the UK, that will acknowledge and celebrate the importance of our own families and others. The healthy love and support it holds, the stability it provides, and the framework shown, will shape our society today and in the future. I am honored to be apart of this conscious week that will bring awareness to parents across the UK, making us all much closer.
Jo Frost, Family and Childcare Expert

 

Jo Whiley, Radio DJ and Television Presenter For me it's all about the Family and the good times we have together. My kids and husband make my world go round and I'm at my happiest when we are in each other's company - laughing, arguing, chilling out together. We are so lucky to have each other and I'm more than happy to back National Family Week.
Jo Whiley, Radio DJ and Television Presenter

 

Seal and Heidi Klum Family is such an important part of my life and it is something that Heidi and I value enormously. If National Family Week helps people to realise the worth of the people that they have around them then it will reward them no end. Having children and creating a family is such an amazing privilege. We should nurture and enjoy every moment that we spend together. I am in full support of the messages that this campaign is promoting and encourage families around the UK to get on board.
Seal and Heidi Klum

 

Gillian McKeith, Nutritionist and Presenter of Channel 4 You Are What You Eat As a nation, we absolutely must take responsibility for our health. Parents owe it to their kids to introduce them to healthy foods as well as get them involved in physical exercise. Sitting down to eat a healthy meal together as a family is a great way to establish good habits in your children. Have a family cook - in where you make a meal together from scratch. Use fresh, unprocessed ingredients wherever possible. I am in full support of National Family Week which aims to help encourage families to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Gillian McKeith, Nutritionist and Presenter of Channel 4 You Are What You Eat

 

Joe Swash, Actor I would not have been able to achieve half as much as I have without my family support. With a strong family you can achieve anything. I think it is important to make time for family and spend time together, for National Family Week, and every week.
Joe Swash, Actor

 

Pauline Quirke, Actor This is my second year of supporting National Family Week as I feel it is such a worthwhile event. My family is the most important thing to me and I think this is the perfect opportunity for everyone to think about giving time and support to their loved ones.
Pauline Quirke, Actor

 

Sian Lloyd, Presenter This is a fantastic campaign aimed at celebrating family life throughout the nation. I have always had a strong family support and I am so grateful to have had this. To give children encouragement when they are young is the best gift that you can give. During this week, for the first time ever, families in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales should get together and take time out as a family. Food is one of my real passions, and I can think of no better excuse than a big picnic, or family feast to get everyone rounded up.
Sian Lloyd, Presenter

 

Matthew Wright, Radio and Television Presenter Issues on family crop up time and time again on The Wright Stuff and it has made me realise how essential it is to nurture children and give them the necessary support. National Family Week is an exciting celebration that will hopefully create a more positive social landscape for years to come.
Matthew Wright, Radio and Television Presenter

 

Floella Benjamin, Actress, Author and Television Presenter My mother always told me that education was my passport to life and this is still something that I believe today. Nurturing children and guiding them will help them to grow into strong and confident individuals. A lot of my work, in both television and literature, has been focused on helping children to learn in a positive way. People should take the opportunity this National Family Week 2009 to start a new chapter and make reading a regular part of family life.
Floella Benjamin, Actress, Author and Television Presenter

 

To see our partners and supporters video click here.

Supporting organisations

4Children Action for Children
Action for Prisoners' Families Age Concern & Help the Aged
Amateur Swimming Association Army Families Federation
Association for Family Therapy Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of School and College Leaders Association of Teachers and Lectures
Baptist Union of Great Britain Becta
Big Lottery Fund Bike Week
Booktrust Bowls England
British Academy of Film and Television Arts British Canoe Union
British Humanist Association British Marine Federation
British Mountaineering Council British Muslim Forum
British Orienteering Cache
Campaign for Learning Camping & Caravanning Club
Care for the Family Cash for Kids
Catholic Bishops' Committee for Marriage and Family Life Change4Life
Chief Fire Officers' Association Children's Links
Christian Initiatives in Early Years Education Contact a Family
ContinYou Coram
Countryside 2010 County Councils Network
Cycling England DadTalk
Daycare Trust Deaf Parenting UK
Diabetes UK Eden Project
Education Otherwise England Athletics
England Basketball England Cricket Board
English Federation of Disability Sport English Heritage
Enterprise Nation Evangelical Alliance
Families First Families Need Fathers
Family Action Family and Parenting Institute
Family Friendly Family Fund
Family Holiday Association Family Links
Family Matters Institute Family Rights Group
Fatherhood Institute Fegans Child & Family Care
Fields in Trust Fitter Families
Gingerbread Girls' Schools Association
GMB Grandparents Plus
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity Greater London Authority
Hindu Forum of Britain Home Start
I CAN Jewish Community Centre for London
Kids Company Kids in Museums
Kingston upon Hull City Council Lawn Tennis Association
Lesbian and Gay Foundation Liberal Judaism
Lions Club International British Isles and Ireland Liverpool Football Club
Local Government Association London Councils
London Symphony Orchestra MacIntyre
Make-A-Wish Foundation UK Marriage Care
Masorti Judaism Medical Engineering Resource Unit
Mothers' Union Multiple Births Foundation
Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
National Academy for Parenting Practitioners National Association of AONBs
National Association of Family Information Services National Association of Local Councils
National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries National Autistic Society
National Childbirth Trust National Childminding Association
National Children's Bureau National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations
National Day Nurseries Association National Family Mediation
National Federation of Women's Institutes National Literacy Trust
National Lottery Good Causes National Maritime Museum, Cornwall
National Media Museum National Museums Scotland
National Parks National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Natural History Museum Naval Families Federation
Newcastle United Foundation Northern Ireland Tourist Board
One Plus One Parenting UK
Parentline Plus Pre-school Learning Alliance
Premier League Prince's Trust
Princess Royal Trust For Carers Prison Advice & Care Trust
Prisoners' Families and Friends Service RAF Families Federation
Ramblers Relate
Relationships Foundation Ronald McDonald House Charities
Royal Opera House Royal Parks
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Royal Yachting Association
Safe Network Save the Children
School Governors' One Stop Shop School-Home Support
Scope Scottish Childminding Association
Scottish Sports Association Signed Stories
Single Parent Action Network Society of Genealogists
Sport England Sports Council Wales
Spurgeons St John Ambulance
Starlight Children's Foundation Swim Wales
Teachernet Tennis Foundation
The Children's Society The Football Association
The Fostering Network The Grandparents' Association
The National Gallery The Pony Club
The Reading Agency The Royal British Legion
The Rugby Football Union The Salvation Army
The Scottish Government The Work Foundation
Trades Union Congress Treehouse
UK Sports Association United Reformed Church
Victoria and Albert Museum Visit Scotland
Visit Wales Volleyball England
Wallace & Gromit's Children's Foundation WellChild
Welsh Yachting Association Wigmore Hall
Women Like Us Woodland Trust
Working Families Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
YoungMinds Youth Sport Trust