Creating conditions for starting and sustaining family life in the UK

The Mapineq project came together with ESRC Connecting Generations on 29 April to host a webinar on 'Welcoming regions: Creating conditions for starting and sustaining family life'. During the webinar, experts explored the latest UK family-related research and discussed how to better support families and those who would like to start a family in the UK. The speakers presented data, practical examples and strategies for addressing local challenges to revitalise communities.

Key discussion themes and actionable recommendations

1. Understanding the gap between intentions and outcomes

Representing Connecting Generations and the UK Generations and Gender Survey teams, Dr Bernice Kuang discussed UK fertility trends and how they reflect a nuanced story: although the total fertility rate (TFR) is declining, the desire to have children remains relatively stable.

The two-child norm persists, but young adults are delaying parenthood or opting out altogether due to economic insecurity and pessimism about the future. Nearly half of UK adults aged 18–29 report being uncertain or unlikely to have children. Fertility intentions are significantly shaped by household income and perceived stability, factors that are deeply tied to place-based disparities.

Find more information on Dr Kuang's research in CPC-CG Policy Briefings 72 and 73:
Intending to remain childless: Are concerns about climate change and overpopulation the cause?
Who uses childcare in the UK and how much does it cost?

2. The power of place

Professor Jani Erola (University of Turku / Mapineq) presented compelling new data from the Mapineq conjoint study revealing that individuals weigh local quality of life—particularly housing affordability, healthcare access, and green spaces—more heavily than job or education opportunities when deciding where to live and raise families. This underscores that national family policies, while essential, must be complemented by local development strategies that make regions more attractive and liveable, particularly for young families.

3. Tackling structural inequalities locally

Raj Patel (Understanding Society, University of Essex) further emphasised that early family formation is increasingly a marker of wealth, not just income. The "parenting gap"—where affluent families invest more time and resources in children—is growing, contributing to long-term inequalities. Overcrowded housing, wealth barriers, and insecure tenancy arrangements are structural issues that must be addressed not only through broad fiscal policies but also through tailored local action.

4. Towards place-based family support

Stuart Duffin (Relationships Glasgow) showcased how Scottish third-sector organisations are stepping in to support individuals on top of available public services. Initiatives such as “healthy relationship cafés” and peer support groups illustrate how relational and place-based interventions can have outsized impacts on family wellbeing and social cohesion. Early intervention and talking when things go wrong in the family helps develop the skills to live happy, healthy and successful lives, and the quality of home lives and family relationships, supporting good mental health. These initiatives demonstrate the potential of municipal leadership and community partnerships in providing preventative support.



Action points

1. Design local strategies to better support families
Develop tailored local policies that respond to the unique needs of different life stages—following citizens' consultations. Particular attention should be paid to affordable housing solutions to young people and childcare.

2. Invest in early and preventive interventions
Scale up relationship-based services at the local level, building on successful models. These initiatives improve long-term well-being and reduce crisis-related expenditures.

3. Support intergenerational engagement
Promote volunteer and mentoring programmes that enable older adults to support families, reducing isolation and strengthening community ties.

4. Recognise informal care work
Acknowledge and support unpaid caregivers—especially grandmothers—through financial assistance, respite options, and formal integration into local care strategies.

5. Improve local living conditions
Address overcrowding, green space availability, and public transport through urban and rural planning.

6. Strengthen networks
Encourage municipalities to join networks to share best practices and improve regional collaboration.

7. Monitor and research local impact
Fund research to assess the efficacy of local policies in improving the quality of life of residents.

Read the full story on the Population Europe website. You can also watch the presentations at Population Europe's Youtube channel and discover key recommendations in the event factsheet 'Making places attractive to live: What more can be done? United Kingdom results from national workshop discussions'.


Acknowledgement

This event is part of the Mapineq project, and was organised in collaboration with Population Europe and the ESRC-funded Connecting Generations programme. The Mapineq project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No. 101061645 (www.mapineq.eu). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Posted 13/05/2025 10:16