As a volunteer receptionist at Relate Lancashire and Cumbria I see individuals and couples in a high-degree of stress due to relationship issues. I’m also privileged to see the gratitude towards our excellent counsellors for their help in dealing with confidential matters.

I am approaching my first year of service as a Trustee and have built on a practical experience of the organisation; and our own charity as part of a wider Federation, to realise the challenges ahead. I have found it rewarding to get a feel of where the organisation is and what is ahead.

Relate has recently won an award for its evidence-based domestic violence and abuse counselling as I am sure you are aware of which Lancashire and Cumbria were part of the pilot. We are client focussed with shared social values which gives our centre a more comfortable working environment for counsellors doing a difficult job.

I watched your presentation to our conference with interest and look forward to you promoting our organisation, something I have tried to do as a local trustee. I’m sure you will of received an invitation to learn more about us and look forward to meeting you.

Thank you for this really informative article on stress and well-being.

I am always astounded by the figures as just to how stress is effecting everybody, including businesses.

Hopefully this new research will start to make businesses sit up and take note that stress needs to be dealt with and can be dealt with.

Wishing you well,

Piers