In 2006 the Bishops of England and Wales launched a £12 million fundraising campaign Faith in the Future to support a range of initiatives including strengthening family life. The success of this campaign made it possible for 13 dioceses to undertake capacity-building family ministry projects which sought to strengthen parish communities and encourage families as leaders. The impact of these projects attracted further donations, enabling the bishops to fund further diocesan capacity-building work from 2014-16.

The Celebrating Family diocesan projects are estimated to have impacted the lives of over 12,000 people through increased marriage preparation and parenting support programmes, listening and bereavement training, Home is a Holy Place workshops, celebrations of marriage, healing Masses and other awareness raising events. The diocesan projects raised significantly local awareness of marriage and family life issues, helped parishes to become more sensitive to families’ needs and stimulated the growth of active volunteer networks.

During this time the Bishops also invested in leadership for family ministry and awarded grants to diocesan workers to undertake Master’s studies in Leadership for Family Ministry and Faith Formation.