July 27, 2020

Witness Registration Scheme Open

Provision of witnesses is a question that frequently comes up on our channels and before lockdown we were able to help some couples to find witnesses from our community. As civil partnerships can once be registered, we have created a witness database so that we can more quickly match people to location and availability as needed.

We know that many couples planning a civil partnership only want the simplest registration and for many reasons choose to have civil partnership supporting ‘strangers’ rather than having to select from family and friends. We have frequently received messages wishing that provision of witnesses could be done by the register office itself. It can’t – but we can help!

If, for any reason, you would like us to help you find one or two witnesses for your registration, please send us details of your request.

If you are able to help and would like to be on a witness database, please provide us with details of your location and normal availability. You don’t need to have had or to be planning your own civil partnership as long as you are sympathetic! Let us know whether you are normally able to provide one or two witnesses.

As ever, we are only able to continue to provide these services through the generosity of our supporters. If you benefit from our witness registration scheme, please do consider donating any sum you are able to.

July 8, 2020

New way to donate to campaign

We absolutely hate having to ask our supporters for donations but the simple truth is that we no longer have access to the grants which, together with generous contributions from you all via GoFundMe and CrowJustice, have sustained the campaign for the past few years.

As we move forward, embedding mixed-sex civil partnerships into the fabric of UK life and ensuring our supporters enjoy the registration and the legal security they want, we do need continued financial support to keep the campaign running.

That is why we have created an additional method for supporters to donate easily and regularly. If you are able to commit to a monthly donation of £10, please consider using our new direct debit option – sign up here

If you prefer to make a single donation, please donate here.

However and how much you donate, be assured we are very grateful as are all the couple who have been able to have a mixed-sex civil partnership so far and all those who plan to in the future.

July 6, 2020

Welcome, Amy, new campaign lead

Equal Civil Partnerships are delighted to introduce Amy Grant as our new member of the team in the role as Campaign Lead.

Amy, working as a volunteer, joins Martin Loat, Campaign Chairman and Anni Johnson, Campaign Manager, to take the campaign through to its next phase, establishing mixed-sex civil partnerships within the UK and supporting all our couples on their journey to legal recognition.

Amy, with her partner, Ben has supported the campaign since the start and is a familiar face, having generously allowed us to use their story to publicise the need for mixed-sex civil partnerships and having spoken to traditional and online media, including the BBC, the Guardian and Huff Post, on behalf of Equal Civil Partnerships.

Read Amy’s plans for the future of the campaign and just why it’s so important to her on our home page http://equalcivilpartnerships.org.uk/