Professionalism and Integrity: We define professional integrity as upholding the highest standards of practice and ethical conduct in all our endeavours. This requires us align with the ethical standards of our chosen profession.

Respect and Autonomy: We honour each other’s independence, expertise, and contributions to the collaborative process and conscientiously extend this respect to our students. We encourage each learner to navigate their training with congruence, honesty and actively respect the individuality of their peers.

Inclusivity and Diversity: We embrace diversity in all its forms and understand that this need to be more than a statement. We see of counselling, psychotherapy and the training process as an opportunity to embody this commitment. We accept that this must be an ongoing process that reflects humility, responsibility and self-examination.

Social Justice: We are committed to challenging discrimination and promoting justice and equality in all aspects of our work, including the delivery of training. We affirm the right of marginalised groups within society be treated with respect, care and acceptance. We recognise that in order to be progressive, we must examine our own process, internalised prejudice.

Our collaboration is built on the belief that:

Mutual Aid is the foundation of our collective strength. We support each other to achieve common goals, enhance the quality of our services and create a sense of meaningful connection between members.

Autonomy is vital and each member maintains their independence in decision-making and operations.

Individuals govern their own provision with the support of the collaborative.

Decisions about the collaborative are made through direct democracy

Voluntary Accreditation: We maintain accreditation with professional standards authorities, but each member is free to choose their host professional body, ensuring autonomy and freedom of choice.

Quality and Innovation: We are dedicated to providing high-quality, innovative training experiences that meet the needs of our students and clients.

Experiential Learning: Blending theory, practical skills, and personal development for a comprehensive educational experience.

Horizontal Hierarchy: Valuing every voice equally by inviting and valuing student voice, fostering collaborative decision-making, shared responsibility, and open communication.

Empowerment: Empowering trainees to become self-sufficient, innovative practitioners who contribute to a sustainable and supportive community.

Critical Thinking: Encouraging critical discussion and debate to prepare trainees for diverse and collaborative settings.

Real-World Application: Bridging theory and practice through strong links with local placement providers and ensuring theory is contemporary and up-to-date.

Personal Growth: Recognising the vital role of self-awareness and personal development in becoming effective counsellors.

Flexibility and Individuality: Valuing the uniqueness of each learner, adapting to their needs, and welcoming their feedback and contributions.

Diversity and Acceptance: Promoting diversity-affirming practices and cultivating a culture of acceptance and inclusion.

Voluntary Collaboration and Networking: Building strong networks within the counselling community to enhance learning and professional growth for all.

The commitments that we make to each other are:

Sharing resources and refining our services collectively.

Supporting each other in course design and exchanging services such as teaching and internal verification.

Maintaining high-quality training experiences that align with our shared standards and ethos.

Open, transparent communication to ensure our collaboration thrives.

Resolving conflicts through dialogue and mutual respect, seeking mediation when necessary.

Regularly reviewing and evaluating our collaboration to ensure it meets our goals and adapts to our evolving needs.

This manifesto is a living document, reflecting our ongoing commitment to excellence, collaboration, and the continuous improvement of counselling training. Together, we aspire to create an inclusive, supportive, and innovative educational environment that empowers both trainees and providers.