Family networks
The classic extended family consisting of three generations living under the same roof is now almost extinct. Increased personal and social mobility also means that it is less likely that generations of the same family will live in the same geographical area with exceptions amongst some ethnic minority communities. People are increasing relying on their friendship groups for support in place of their families, this is particularly significant amongst young people.
What are the implications?
- A change in traditional family networks may further increase the number of single person households.
- Weakened family and geographical ties may impact on individuals’ sense of community responsibility.
- As people increasingly live further away from their families, this will further increase levels of personal and social mobility.
- Growing poverty and inequality if traditional sources of family income decrease
- Weaker geographical and family ties could lead to a ‘responsibility gap’ – where more vulnerable people may fall outside the care or responsibility of their family, community, VCOs or other governmental institutions.
- Numbers of volunteers decrease as family networks are often a gateway in to the community and volunteering
Moving forward
This driver does not have direct implications for VCOs but it will impact on the other drivers listed below as well as many others. (There is often a relationship or interdependency between different drivers, which may be important to your organisation. As you scan each driver, it is important to think about its relationship or influence on others; if drivers are linked, then you need to think laterally to draw in all those that may be relevant.)
Increase in single person households
Household structures
Levels of volunteering
Community responsibility
However, here are some questions for your organisation to consider:
- How can your organisation be relied upon as a source of support as immediate family and household ties change?
- If levels of volunteers decrease, what marketing and recruitment strategies can your organisation put in place?
- Have you thought about what your organisation can do to attract more volunteers? This might be training, both formal and informal or a wider variety of life experiences.
What role does monitoring and evaluation play in your strategic planning? How could an understanding of changing need help you to develop more effective services in the future? You could think about this in two ways:
1· Opportunities to improve: Should you need to change how you work or be more responsive?
2· Opportunities to innovate: Should you serve new or different users?
Want to know more?
The State of the Modern Family
Published by: The Equal Opportunities Commission – and agency working to eliminate sex discrimination
Date: 2007
Format: PDF
What is it? This short article examines trends in the shape and behaviour of modern families using findings and statistics from a longitudinal survey.
How useful is this? The focus of this article is not on family networks but on the changing role of parents and childcare arrangements. However, it does include information on alternatives to formal childcare provision including use of the extended family. It also provides several statistics on the role of the family as carers for elderly relatives. The article highlights differences between different social groups.
Other comments:
Published by: Office for National Statistics – a Government Department
Date: 2005
Format: PDF (797KB) as well as web based summaries
What is it? A statistical analysis using demographic information to explore family types and examine the similarities and differences between them.
How useful is this? This short analysis provides a good overview of families and information with particular focus on: married and cohabiting couples; dependent children; lone parent families; and step families. There are also sections considering how different ethnicities and religions affect family structures.
Other comments:
Unilever Family Report 2005: Home Alone?
Published by: IPPR – a left of centre think tank
Date: 2005
Format: PDF
What is it? This report explores the growing trend of people living alone and includes a range of statistics as well as qualitative analysis.
How useful is this? Although this article focuses on living alone it also analyses the effect this might have more broadly on families and social relations. Section 4 in particular considers ‘are friends the new family?’. Overall the report finds that social and familial ties are extremely important to those living alone and that solo living can enhance social and community relationships.
Other comments:
Discuss
How will this affect your organisation? Have you considered it during your strategic planning? Can you share any interesting relevant links? Start the discussion by posting a comment here!
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