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SEP 10 / Relate scoops up Charity Times Award
Relate, the UK’s largest provider of relationship support, has won the Charity Times award for Best use of Technology for its pioneering use of the web and digital technology.
The award, presented to CEO Claire Tyler on 1 September 2010, recognises the innovative way in which the charity has used the internet to reach out and help more people looking for support in their relationships on its website www.relateforparents.org.uk
The website, which went live in January 2010, combines a range of technology and online tools, reflecting the different levels of support that parents may need. The award winning site includes the following:
Support for ‘armchair researchers’ - including articles, videos, podcasts, blogs and forums across a range of topics
Family Mapping - Interactive web based tool mirroring an exercise used in the counselling room
Live Chat – Real time text based chat with a Relate trained therapist
Claire Tyler, Chief Executive of Relate, commented: “Harnessing technology and the power of the internet has allowed us to make our services instantly accessible and as a result, we are seeing people use tools such as Live Chat who may not have previously considered face to face counselling.
“The feedback we’ve received has been excellent. People like the immediacy and privacy of the service and the fact that people can access it from their own home means that real time support can be given for issues that people might be facing at that very moment.”
Since January 2010 the website has seen a steady increase in visitors, over one million so far this year with over 2,500 Live Chats held with counsellors.
The Relate for Parents and Families website was set up in response to the way people now obtain information. The concept was to provide a resource that would enable people to find support 24 hours a day. For some, it reduces the stigma they may have associated with accessing help and of course it enables our services to be accessible for those who might not be able to get to a centre.”
Claire Tyler continued: “We are extremely proud of our Relate for Parents and Families website and very pleased to have won this award. The introduction of online tools in Relate has changed the way we think about our client offering and we have exciting plans for development in the future.”
Contact Media and PR Officer, Kim Atkins on: 020 7554 2892 / kim.atkins@relate.org.uk or for out of hours enquiries - 07971 869 735
Notes to editors:
• Relate’s vision is a future in which healthy relationships form the heart of a thriving society
• Relate’s services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and informal workshops
• Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and Children’s Centres
• Relate supports 150,000 people each year in over 600 locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Relate has a work-force of 2,000 people nationwide
• For more information and advice visit: www.relate.org.uk
• Relate for Parents and Families is funded by the Department for Education