This is a confidential counselling service that we offer to young people aged 10 to 18 who need someone to talk to about their difficulties and experiences caused by problems in the home. Quite often adults who are experiencing problems are not always aware of how their difficulties may be impacting on the children. Also, children in these circumstances do not want to burden their parents with their fears and concerns and tend to keep things to themselves. This service allows young people to access counsellors directly.
The growth of help and support provided for young people by Shropshire's leading relationship organisation has attracted high-level praise from all sections of those involved in the education sector.
The appreciation has come from elected councillors, teachers, parents and youngsters themselves - as well as the national schools monitoring body ofsted - for the work of Relate, and specifically for the counselling skills of people operating within Relateen, the Relate offshoot dedicated to helping young people.
The progressive expansion of Relateen's work across Shropshire - and particularly in Telford - is reflected in the latest figures of appointment numbers. They have risen from 1,601 in 2005-6 to a record 4,721 in 2009-2010. Relate Shropshire Chief Executive Lin Foley, says: "We are within the top ten out of 76 centres within the UK and have received across the board praise from within the organisation and from clients for the skill and dedication of our counsellors, particularly for the successful outcomes of our confidential face to face work with young people. We are hoping to extend the upward trend of support reflected in the latest figures."
Refferals to Relateen come from schools, parents and many from young people themselves - all aimed at obtaining advice on how to overcome relationship problems which can be reflected in behaviour problems, substance abuse and lack of attainment within the classroom. "Very often poor school behaviour and even truant problems can be traced back to upheavel at home, particularly where parents have split up and new partners, perhaps with their own children, have moved in" says Mrs Foley. "Bullying can also have an effect, especially when the victims keep the difficulty to themselves."
Ten secondary schools in Telford, along with primary and secondary schools across Shropshire are regular users of Relateen's trouble-shooting expertise. But potential cutbacks in local government spending could hit what is seen by many users as an essential service for young people at an important period of their lives. The cost of counselling comes mainly from individual school budgets which could be hit when economies are being sought.
Mrs Foley has written to school heads underlining the proven value of counselling support for hundreds of young people, as reflected in letters of appreciation from schools, parents and young people.