Relate to the job of counsellor
15 (tomorrow) to see, at first hand, some of the areas and roads which will be adversely affected by both the construction and eventual operation of HS2.
As you are aware, we will suffer heavy traffic congestion, pollution and noise from three major construction sites in the area for up to 10 years and the line, when built, will run very close to a number of streets in Ickenham.
When parliament decided to go ahead with HS2, using a process called the Hybrid Bill, our only route to get our issues addressed was to submit petitions for mitigation.
Our prime demand, supported by the council and our MP, is to extend the tunnel to beyond the Colne Valley, thereby reducing the blight to thousands of residents.
Within Ickenham, we raised 25 street petitions with 1,300 signatures.
We have yet to receive notice when we will go to parliament to present our petitions, but the visit by the select committee is a preamble to these presentations.
The final itinerary is yet to be agreed and is changing daily.
We are expecting the group to visit the Ruislip Golf Club, The Greenway, Ickenham High Road, Swakeleys Road, Breakspear Road South and Harvil Road. We are hoping there will be some stops to meet residents.
We would like to use the opportunity to demonstrate that the blight to everyone in our community is unacceptable and they have to improve their plans.
If you live on the route described above please put a ‘Stop HS2’ poster in your window. There are stocks in Ickenham Library.
We will be putting up banners and posters along the route.
We appreciate that people in the past have objected to such signing, but it will only be for 24 hours.
Although many of us are angry at HS2 Ltd and the way we have been treated, the select committee is potentially our friend as they have the powers to recommend changes – we do not want to show any hostility to the committee.
For further information please look at our website www. ickenhamresidents.co.uk. RELATE is offering four-day introduction to the skills of the counsellor, which offers learners a chance to develop the counselling skills of communication and empathy in a straightforward and practical way.
Anyone looking to develop their communication skills for work, including those wanting to be more effective in interviews, would find this course useful, and it is also helpful to those working with families and vulnerable people in the community. It is important to attend on all four days.
No formal qualifications are needed to join the course, but you must be able to read and write English.
The course includes understanding counselling and communication skills; interview management and time keeping; the need for clear boundaries; and ethical issues and the limitations of the use of counselling skills.
The course is accredited by the Open College Network at level three and to complete the accreditation you will need to complete a short written portfolio and be tested on your practical skills.
This course does not allow participants to practice as a counsellor but can be an introductory step towards counselling as a career.
The course runs on four consecutive Mondays, on February 23, and then March 2, 9 and 16, at the Relate offices in Milton Road, Harrow HA1 1XX, from 9.30am to 4pm. The course costs £300.
Some free places are available. For details of qualifying groups, please email relate_training@ yahoo.co.uk.