A RESCUE package is under way to put the desperately under-funded North-East Relate agency back on a firm footing.

Last month the relationship counselling organisation was forced to shut down its operation because of a cash crisis.

The closure only lasted 24 hours, thanks to an 11th hour reprieve by a charitable trust, but the repercussions are still being felt and redundancies are still on the cards

Mrs Alison Dorman, marketing and development director at the Middlesbrough headquarters, told the D&S Times: "The trust heard we were in desperate straits and it has given us a substantial sum of money to see us through the next few months. That means business as usual over the Christmas period."

However, the service - currently being reshaped - is still on a knife-edge until it can lay the groundwork for future stability.

"If we carry on as we are we will be back in the same position in six months' time," said Mrs Dorman. "We still don't know what jobs are going to go."

Relate is desperate for volunteers, donations - and even clients - to come back to the service they deserted when four branches covering Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, County Durham, Darlington and North Yorkshire were merged into one huge region less than a year ago.

Businesses or individuals with special skills are also being urged to offer gifts in kind or to donate their expertise.

"We do need to sharpen up our profile. Anyone with public relations experience or who could help with printing, design, even accounts, would be valuable to us."

The merger went hand in glove with a freephone number to replace the local contact points. The aim was to offer better opportunities to take up free slots for appointments. But Relate discovered bigger was not necessarily better.

"We were playing our part in a national plan. But there were a lot of costs involved in the merger and the budget we had put together did not come up to scratch.

"Redcar and Cleveland council withdrew a grant we had had for many years, which had been used to support counselling in their area. Finding rent-free charity shops had also become harder and harder."

"We thought the freephone number was a good move forward but what we didn't anticipate was a decline in the number of clients.

"People were using old telephone numbers in Yellow Pages and the majority didn't ring in on the other number.

"We advertised for volunteers to run the appointment service, which was being based in Darlington.

"But we didn't get the uptake that we did in other areas - and that was the one place they were needed. So we had to run that on reduced hours."

Reflecting on what became "a horrible, horrible time," Mrs Dorman said client difficulties were coupled with a changeover in procedures for counsellors. Some left because they didn't want to be part of such a big operation.

"Inevitably there was less income. People have to contribute £30 to the costs of counselling. We cover an area which has massive pockets of deprivation and some people could only afford a few pounds."

The agency got by on handouts from trusts and other sources and grants from social services.

"In the end it left a very dismal picture and we had to take what was a very difficult decision. It was devastating and a lot of the staff were having to cope with clients while feeling extremely vulnerable themselves."

Relate has contracts direct with RAF Leeming and Darlington Borough Council to help counsel the workforce.

"We get people back off the sick and into work. There is a lot of money wasted through absenteeism and it is an area where we can help.

"We also have contracts with schools, including Eastbourne comprehensive, where we go in regularly and work with children who have problems with separations or being part of second families.

"If more schools were willing to look at putting money into the service, they would realise how worthwhile it is. There are often reasons why children are being badly behaved and teachers don't always have the time or the expertise to find out.

"In Darlington we also have the services of a therapist who will work with couples and individuals on specific sexual problems."

"Clients can contact us direct or be referred by GPs, teachers, even solicitors."

The Middlesbrough centre is working with its national headquarters on a new structure plan to ensure it can continue to offer a full service to clients.

"We are urging people to contact us if they need help.

"Relationships often become stressful at Christmas and people tend to try to sweep problems under the carpet because they want to have a good time. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen."

Anyone who wants counselling should telephone the Freephone number 0800 980 5907.

Volunteers, businesses, donations or applications to train as counsellor should use the administrative number 01642 882811.