Funding cuts by Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills threaten to wipe £0.5million from Relate
The Relate Institute, which trains 350 students each year in counselling courses for couples and families, is threatened with funding cuts of £0.5million. The funding withdrawal imposed by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills could cause a severe squeeze on resources for Relate services across the UK.
Chief Executive of Relate Claire Tyler, said:
"Relate is very concerned about the proposal to divert funds from students studying for second degrees. The Relate Institute was founded less than two years ago but is now training some 350 new relationship counsellors, equipping them to work with families and young people, as well as with adults. These cuts have the potential to cause staffing issues for our 80 Relate Centres which currently help 150,000 people each year."
Nick Turner, Head of the Relate Institute said:
"Despite the relatively small size of our institution, the impact on the Relate Institute could be hugely detrimental. Not only are Relate students more likely to be mature students, it is an advantage that they are, and this enables them to engage with a client group that itself has a wide range of work and life experiences."
The Relate Institute, a partnership between Relate and Doncaster College is Relate's training centre for relationship studies. It offers entry level University Advanced Diploma through to a Masters Degree, each with a pathway to accreditation with a professional body.
An early day motion querying the funding cuts was signed by 211 MPs and a petition on the Downing Street website opposing the cuts has now been signed by almost 20,000 people.
07 February 2008
