Ryedale Counselling Service (RCS) wants to hear from you about whether there is a need for more counselling services locally and what kind of counselling services you would like.

          RCS is carrying out a consultation in Ryedale and Scarborough to help it win further funding to continue its counselling services, which are provided at five venues in Ryedale [including at four GP surgeries] and two in Scarborough.

          Following the recent cut in its NHS funding grant, RCS now faces the loss of 40% of its total income when the current five-year funding agreement with its major funder ends in June 2012. Without this money, RCS will need to drastically reduce the level of service currently provided at Ryedale Community House, Malton. This will threaten the evening and weekend counselling services, which have proved to be very popular with clients. In addition, RCS will need to reduce the number of sessions provided at the five GP surgeries where it also offers a service.

          Ryedale Counselling Service would like to hear from as many people living in Ryedale and Scarborough Borough districts as possible about what they would like from a counselling service to help us to improve the existing service and to successfully make the case for new funding.

          As well as planning to continue the existing counselling service, RCS wants to develop new ways of delivering counselling, including:

o        Providing people living in Scarborough the ability to self-refer to the counselling service [currently they need to be referred by their doctor or another NHS worker];

o        Offering online counselling via the new website [from early 2012];

o        Providing counselling at new community-based venues, including a new venue in Scarborough, and

o         Improving access for hard to reach groups such as carers by working closely with partner organisations such as Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource to raise awareness amongst carers about the counselling service and to make it easier for carers to receive counselling.

To register your views please phone us on 01653 690 124 to ask for a copy of the survey to be sent to you or visit our website – www.ryedalecounselling.org.uk  to answer an online version of the survey. The consultation closes on 8th December 2011.

 Stephen Robling.