Counselling Service.
The GAD Counselling Service continues to provide a service of excellence. At the current time it is voluntary. GAD recently completed a three-year project that was funded by Woolwich Development Agency, which provided opportunities for disabled people to obtain qualifications in counselling at the University of Greenwich. The key success to this project was that all the students were disabled people. GAD has been aware over the years that there was a need to create more opportunities for disabled people seeking counselling to have this service delivered by disabled counsellors. We were able to set up a unique opportunity to provide training to certificate and diploma level. The support we received from Woolwich Development Agency, Woolwich College and the University of Greenwich was an essential component to the project’s success.
The project provided a whole range of opportunities for disabled people on the training course, including placement opportunities and a resource library. The results of the project include:
- 2 disabled people received their post-graduate Diploma in Therapeutic
Counselling and are now qualified counsellors.
- 21 disabled people attended an Introduction to Counselling course.
- 8 disabled people (one, self-financing student from out of the borough)
passed the Advanced Certificate in Counselling.
- One disabled person passed an (‘A’ Level equivalent) Psychology
course.
- One disabled person gained part-time employment as a Welfare Rights
Advisor.
- One student gained a placement with a local voluntary telephone help-line.
- A comprehensive library service for student counsellors.
- 2 students took a different career path as a result of improved confidence
from the course.
- Work with Woolwich College to provide improved access to counselling
courses.
- Support and advice to University of Greenwich on access issues for
disabled students.
- 18 disabled people have received a counselling service over the past year.
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