Citizens UK and NASUWT announce strategic partnership around schools-based counselling
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Citizens UK, a people powered Community Organising charity, and
NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, have announced a new strategic
partnership that will kick off by calling for the roll out of
schools-based counselling across the UK. Both organisations,
along with British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
(BACP), are calling on the UK Government to secure the statutory
provision of school-based counselling in English primary schools,
secondary schools and further...Request free trial
Citizens UK, a people powered Community Organising charity, and NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, have announced a new strategic partnership that will kick off by calling for the roll out of schools-based counselling across the UK. Both organisations, along with British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), are calling on the UK Government to secure the statutory provision of school-based counselling in English primary schools, secondary schools and further education colleges. Citizens UK and NASUWT share an overarching mission to take non-partisan action for the common good, with the partnership cementing the joint work over the past five years, one of which was the ‘Refugees Welcome Schools’ initiative that saw 23 schools commit to the program. The campaign for schools-based counselling began in 2019, after local leaders in Tyne & Wear Citizens, a Citizens UK chapter, saw how young people in their communities were not getting the mental health services they needed. They then brought this motion to the NASUWT conference in April 2021 making it a national priority for the union. In 2020, research showed that one in six children aged 5 to 19 years old were identified as having a probable mental disorder.[1] However, a quarter of GP referrals to UK child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were rejected in 2018-19 on the grounds that their symptoms were not severe enough, meaning many went without the support they needed.[2] The roll out of schools-based counselling can help ensure children and young adults get access to support, filling in the 'missing middle' between the Government’s pilot Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). A secondary school pupil who used schools-based counselling said: “School counselling was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I was finally able to talk about my issues rather than keeping them to myself. Having the counsellor in school meant that she was just an email away, or I could drop in at break time if I needed someone there. My mental health is a lot better now than it was before, as she taught me how to cope. If I’m struggling now, I remember what we talked about and can help myself get through my difficult moments.” Matthew Bolton, Citizens UK Executive Director said: “We are so pleased to announce our strategic partnership with NASUWT, which demonstrates how trade unions and Community Organising practices can work collaboratively to make change. With both Citizens UK and NASUWT agendas being driven by their powerful membership bases, the schools-based counselling campaign provides a basis for future joint work, demonstrating how important schools are as places of democratic action.” Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary said: “We believe there are huge benefits for young people, school staff and the wider health service in having access to school-based counsellors. It is clear that the need for trained support is there and is growing. Investment in school-based counsellors and early intervention could help to prevent many young people reaching crisis point.” Ends Notes to editors References [2] Access to child and adolescent mental health services in 2019 - Education Policy Institute
Founded in 1989, Citizens UK is a people-powered alliance of local communities working together for the common good. Through the method of Community Organising, we develop local leaders, strengthen local institutions and create change. Citizens UK has 17 chapters across the UK made up of diverse, local alliances, including schools, universities, churches, mosques, synagogues, parent groups, health trusts, charities and unions. Each member is deeply rooted in their communities and have an everyday connection to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Through this, we work with them to develop their voices and come together with the power and strategy needed to make real change. Read more about schools-based counselling here https://www.citizensuk.org/campaigns/school-based-counselling/ NASUWT NASUWT is the only union dedicated to teachers and headteachers throughout the UK. By ‘putting teachers first’, the NASUWT works to enhance the status of the teaching profession to deliver real improvements to teachers’ working lives, seeking to ensure they are recognised and rewarded as highly skilled professionals with working conditions that enable them to focus on their core role of teaching. Key figures around schools-based counselling Citizens UK is grateful to Jo Holmes, Children, Young People and Families Lead, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for her assistance in calculating these costings.
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