A host of celebrities including Wil Johnston (Baby father), Ellen Thomas (Teachers), Dona Croll (Rory Bremner) Don Gilet (Baby Father) and TV presenter Brenda Emmanus lent their support to the Relate/2as1 ‘Keep the love alive’ campaign at the lively launch event in Central London earlier this week. ‘Keep the love alive’ is the first major public education campaign aimed at encouraging Black communities to consider relationship support services to improve the quality of relationships.

At the launch Rosie Winterton MP congratulated Relate and 2as1 on pioneering this initiative, which is funded by the Lord Chancellor’s Department. She said: ‘We want every couple to have access to advice and support when they need it. Our message is that help is out there – don’t be afraid to use it. We’re providing that support to make it easily accessible, and we must make sure support services encompass traditional cultural differences.’

Relate Chief Executive Angela Sibson emphasised the importance of the campaign for her organisation, ‘It’s very important to Relate that we are working with 2as1 on this ground-breaking campaign. We’ve introduced two new services – telephone and Internet – and demand is huge. People can get the help they want when they want it.’

Michael Kelly, Chief Executive of 2as1, spoke passionately about the campaign, which was his brainchild: ‘There has been no lipservice paid by the Lord Chancellor’s Department, only positive action, which we are very grateful for. When you mix heritage, culture and stereotypes, you get to identify the needs of a community. Our first step was to work with the Government to influence policy and secondly, to work with Relate, an organisation with over 60 years experience in this sector. We’re saying to Black people – take charge, keep the love alive, which is all about getting the best from your relationships.’

After the speeches there was lively interaction with the audience, followed by entertainment from comedienne Angie Le Mar and actor Wil Johnson, who recited a poignant poem written by his wife about love and marriage.

TV presenter Brenda Emmanus added her support to the whole campaign: 'I think 'Keep the Love Alive' is a wonderful, positive initiative. There is nothing greater than love and it is imperative that we as a community nourish and protect our relationships by any means necessary. I hope we put our inhibitions and taboos aside and seize the opportunity to nurture our relationships.'

The campaign is being promoted heavily through 48-sheet posters, advertising in ‘Black’ titles and radio stations and via an interactive website (www.keepthelovealive.net) which features lots of hints and tips for couples. The campaign uses a provocative and sexy look in its creative approach through a series of urban and 70s retro cool illustrations, which aim to help communicate the message in a light-hearted and lifestyle fashion.