Editing Alpha course (section)

=== Relationship programmes ===

Several relationship-oriented programmes have emerged alongside Alpha that are now separately run by a sister organisation called Relationship Central. The Marriage Course is a seven-session course for married couples, consisting of a "candlelit meal and/or coffee, tea and dessert at a romantic table for two while listening to practical talks that are informative and fun, either given live or played on DVD", while the Marriage Preparation Course follows a similar format over five sessions in preparation for married life.<ref name="course">{{Cite web |title=The Marriage Courses |url=http://relationshipcentral.org/marriage-preparation-course |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331055743/http://relationshipcentral.org/marriage-preparation-course |archive-date=31 March 2010 |access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref> Unlike Alpha, there are no group sessions - the couple are to spend the time together, and relationship details are not shared with a counsellor or other participants.<ref name=course/> The Marriage Course was adopted by the [[British Army]] and an additional session on enforced separation (e.g. as a result of operational deployment) was added by a military couple working in co-operation with Relationship Central. In 2012, DVD versions of the Parenting Children Course (for parents or caregivers of children aged 0–10) and the Parenting Teenagers Course (11-18) were released. Unlike the Marriage Course, the parenting courses use a similar format to Alpha: a meal followed by a talk and group discussions.

The website says about these courses that while they are "based on Christian principles", they are "designed for all couples with or without a church background".<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is The Marriage Preparation Course? |url=https://themarriagecourses.org/try/the-marriage-preparation-course |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508013703/https://themarriagecourses.org/try/the-marriage-preparation-course |archive-date=8 May 2019 |access-date=7 May 2019 |website=TheMarriageCourses.org |publisher=Alpha International}}</ref> The courses are authored by Nicky Lee and Sila Lee, staff at Holy Trinity Brompton and authors of ''The Marriage Book'' and ''The Parenting Book''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parenting Course |url=https://www.htb.org/parenting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508013702/https://www.htb.org/parenting |archive-date=8 May 2019 |access-date=7 May 2019 |website=HTB.com}}</ref>