MPs Alan Meale and Anne Main table Earle Day Motions in support of the Relate Institute

HEFCE funding cuts threaten to wipe £0.5million from national Relate training centre, the Relate Institute

Labour MP Alan Meale has tabled an Early Day Motion in support of the Relate Institute highlighting the dire implications of Government proposals to cut funding for students with previous qualifications.

Under the plans the Relate Institute, which trains 350 students each year in counselling courses for couples and families, is threatened with funding cuts of £0.5million. This will threaten Relate services across the UK, as well as undermining the Government's aim to make talking therapies available to 900,000 more people by 2010/11.

The motion praises the organisation's outstanding reputation in supporting family breakdown, across the UK and particularly within Nottinghamshire where the charity helps 2,500 people.

Conservative MP Anne Main has also tabled an EDM celebrating Relate's role in helping to stabilise the relationships of men and women across the UK and acknowledging the funding difficulties that the charity faces.

A petition on the Downing Street website opposing the cuts in HEFCE funding has now been signed by more than 20,000 people.

For details of the EDMs visit the Parliament website:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34976&SESSION=891
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35038&SESSION=891

To sign the online petition, visit: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ELQFunding

07 February 2008