THE level of counselling services available to people in Herefordshire from Relate is scheduled to increase as a result of the organisation moving into a new county office.

Relate will be moving into the Fred Bulmer Centre in Hereford in the middle of June, providing the organisation with improved facilities from which to handle its growing work load.

There are currently six trained counsellors working in Herefordshire, to be joined shortly by four more. They operate from three centres - Leominster, Ross-on-Wye and Hereford itself, but counselling is also available by arrangement in Bromyard an Ledbury.

Herefordshire joined with Shropshire to save on administrative costs a few years ago, but chief executive, Lin Foley, who runs the two-county operation, says this in no way diminishes the level of specialist counselling available in Herefordshire.

She said: "We are delighted to be moving into the new offices in the Fred Bulmer Centre which gives us a convenient base within the city. Demand for our services is constantly increasing as we extend our counselling far beyond our original 'marriage guidance' remit."

Relate also runs Relateen, a counselling service for young people between the ages of eight and 18, under which they are able to discuss in confidence if they are finding it hard to cope or are frightened and worried.

Initial contact with Relate should be made via the two-county headquarters at Shrewsbury on 01743 344010.