Relate appoints new Director of marketing and Fundraising as charity celebrates 70 years of promoting relationships
08 May 2008
Relate, the UK's leading relationship support organisation, has appointed Arezo Shephard to the newly created position of director of marketing & fundraising. This new senior level position forms part of an overall strategy to develop sustainable funding streams as Relate celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
Shephard who brings over fifteen years of senior management experience from within the private and public sectors will implement a corporate fundraising programme to attract long-term partnerships with key organisations. This represents a new strategic direction for Relate as it responds to Government funding decisions.
Shephard said: 'Relate helps 150,000 men, women and children every year to improve their lives and build better relationships. I am really looking forward to identifying organisations who are excited at the opportunity to work with such a well known and well loved charity.'
She continued, 'I am thrilled to take on this role as Relate celebrates its 70th Anniversary. It's a good time to review our overall product portfolio and plot a course for the future of the Relate brand. Too few people know that we can help them with their family relationships for instance - I intend to find new ways of broadening our appeal and reaching out to more people.'
The new Marketing & Fundraising team will oversee income generation as well as guarding the brand and raising the profile of Relate with target audiences. Future marketing activity will highlight the lesser known aspects of Relate which include counselling for children and young people; group training courses which develop relationship and life-skills; counselling for people who have gone through divorce or separation and counselling for same sex couples. Marketing activity will also spell out the many benefits to the individual of seeing a Relate practitioner which range from positive feelings to tangible outcomes such as reductions in time taken off work.
Notes to editors
A head and shoulders photograph for Arezo Shephard is available upon request - please contact Relate Media & PR Officer Cath Allen on: 020 7554 2885 or Catherine.allen@relate.org.uk
- Relate is working to promote health, respect and justice in couple and family relationships
- In 2008 Relate celebrates 70 years of promoting strong relationships - information about the Anniversary, specific events and ways to get involved can be found on the Relate website at: http://www.relate.org.uk/aboutus/relate:70yearsofpromotingstrongrelationships/
- Relate's services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and relationship skills workshops
- Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and with local authorities on homelessness prevention services
- Relate supports 150,000 people each year in over 600 locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Relate has a work-force of 2000 people nationwide
