OnePlusOne and the wind of change

8 Dec 2025: OnePlusOne has led the field in the UK and the world since their start as the Marriage Research Centre in 1971. The key question and research finding was clear then. And that wind of change is still called for in their 2024-25 report.

Seeking help at ‘crisis point’ is often too late. (MRC 1971)

Now in 2025 OnePlusOne‘s CEO, Verity Glasgow, opens their annual report of research, services and social impact in the UK. She says we still don’t talk enough about accessible earlier relationship support for separating families:

Why don’t we talk about it more?

It’s the old question. But she does find signs of the message getting through. People she meets are curious and understand. And she adds: “It is our responsibility to fly the flag for early intervention in relationship support and engage government”. These outcomes are keenly sought by others in this field.

The best wind to fly a flag

“Changing the societal narrative” is a key task to get everyone talking. It’s the effective way to get public, professionals and government to make things happen. Yet we don’t find this top task listed much in campaigners’ future plans. Networking, evidence, updated websites, good ideas and projects are important; but, evidently, on their own they take decades to change a culture.

Specific expertise is now available for serious campaigns to “change societal narrative”. We can do more than fly a flag to flap in any old breeze. We can help change the direction of the prevailing wind.

A tail wind makes the going much easier than a head wind does. A change of prevailing wind effectively teams everyone up as it blows us all in the new direction.

Photo by Liam Desic on Unsplash