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.

Have you been affected by the closure of Iron Mill College?

We are currently gathering information from ADC students affected by recent training disruption in order to better understand the impact and maintain communication during this transition.

Your information will be stored securely and used solely for the purposes of communication, coordination and support relating to current training disruption.

Register Your Details

Who are we?

  • We are a core group from the 250 + 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 organisation interested in potentially hosting the ADC teach out in Poole and/or Exeter over the next 12-18 months with recognised governance systems, professional accountability structures, the ability to hold placements and three-way agreements with formal moderation/validation support

  • Are you a training provider or training venue in Poole or Exeter with space to host weekday/ weekend courses?

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

Let's talk

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We are not

  • 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 towards:

    • stronger trainee protection frameworks

    • clearer contingency and continuity planning

    • ethical guidance during periods of training disruption

    • improved support structures for counselling trainees in the future

    • greater financial safeguarding for students paying training fees in advance

    • clearer communication around the role and scope of accreditation at the point of enrolment

    • stronger collaborative pathways between training providers, professional bodies and students during periods of transition

    • protecting accessible counselling training pathways across the South West and wider UK for future generations of counsellors

  • 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