Student Alliance for Ethical Counselling & Training

Supporting communication, continuity and ethical progression pathways for students affected by the closure of Iron Mill College’s Advanced Diploma in Counselling programme.

Are you a student affected?

We will be opening a central contact register within the next 24 hours for students affected by recent training disruption, so we can better understand and support those impacted during this transition.

Who are we?

  • We are a core group from the 600 + students of the Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling seeking continuity and ethical solutions

  • Currently training across Poole and Exeter IMC

  • Students in Year 1 & 2 seeking completion of the ‘taught’ course - some of which are already in placement

  • Students in Year 3 & 4 - Completing placement hours / awaiting VIVA qualification exams

  • Deferred students

What are we asking for?

  • Ethical continuity for affected ADC Counselling students

  • An urgent exploration and facilitation of appropriate hosted and teach-out pathways

  • Immediate guidance and protection of placements and client continuity

  • Accountability, honesty and transparency from all governing bodies and local counselling education providers

  • An innovative approach to unprecedented circumstances

  • Long-term trainee protection frameworks within the profession

  • Positive change

How can you help?

  • Are you a governing body with a creative solution?

  • Are you an established training provider ready to be part of the solution?

  • Can you contribute in any way with expertise, experience or support?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No.

  • The BACP

  • No. SAECT advocates for safe and professionally recognised continuation pathways.

  • Yes.

  • Potentially in future to support affected students.

  • Yes.

    We recognise students are at many different stages, including:

    • midway through training

    • actively in placement

    • approaching completion hours

    • preparing for viva examinations

    • nearing qualification

    SAECT aims to support communication and continuity across all affected cohorts.

  • Many students have spent years building:

    • learning relationships

    • supervision structures

    • placements

    • client work

    • cohort safety and trust

    Fragmented transfer routes may create significant educational, emotional and clinical disruption for trainees and clients.

  • Current discussions are taking place while awaiting formal insolvency processes and staffing transitions.

    Liquidation is expected in the beginning of June.

  • SAECT may engage with media where appropriate in order to raise awareness of trainee continuity and ethical concerns.

    However, our priority remains collaborative and constructive dialogue with providers and professional bodies wherever possible.

  • Alongside supporting current students, SAECT hopes this situation may contribute toward:

    • stronger trainee protection frameworks

    • clearer contingency planning

    • ethical continuity guidance

    • improved support structures for counselling trainees in future

  • Iron Mill’s Advanced Diploma in Counselling is a privately accredited qualification awarded directly by Iron Mill rather than through a nationally standardised awarding body such as CPCAB.

    This means that although the completed Iron Mill diploma is highly respected professionally, partially completed training is not always easily transferable into other colleges or qualification systems.

    Many local providers use different awarding bodies, structures and assessment frameworks, meaning students often cannot simply “slot into”other pathways and providers elsewhere without significant remapping and disruption.

    This is one reason students are advocating for exploration of continuity and teach-out pathways wherever professionally possible.

“Deeply meaningful relationships are the soil from which growth springs.””

— Carl Rogers