Overview

This 6 month course has the structure of an internship and in this way differs from other University of the Nations courses*. Teaching and practice are integrated throughout each week. Lectures take place on Friday from 09.00 - 16.30 and Monday from 19.00 - 22.00 with occasional work related seminars during the week. For the remainder of the week trainees are involved in all aspects of running the Earls Court Community Project (ECCP). Trainees will live in community housing in the Clapham House and commute to the Earls Court Community Project for work and teaching.

Community Housing & Transport

The FCM doesn't have a residential training base but is run from the Earls Court Community Project (ECCP) premises. We are able to offer self-catered accommodation in a community house belonging to the ECCP project. Being part of the community house trainees will contribute to community life by cooking, shopping, cleaning, praying etc.

The community house is three miles from the ECCP project and trainees will commute into the project each day using either public transport or walk, both take approx. 1 hour. We have obtained discounts for public transport (30% discount) but trainees will be responsible for weekly transport costs.

Working in a pioneer urban ministry such as the Earls Court Community Project and studying at the same time can be challenging and demanding. However this unique combination of theory and hands-on experience will allow trainees to acquire the skills needed to reach the urban needy in a sensitive and practical way.

Admission requirements

For those considering this UofN accredited full-time programme, satisfactory completion of both lecture and outreach phases of a Discipleship Training School (IDS 701 & 702) or Crossroads Discipleship Training School (IDS 703 & 704) is required.

Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate a God given heart to work with broken and hurting people in the world's inner cities. They will also need to show commitment to learn about counselling in an urban setting and to develop the personal, professional and spiritual qualities involved in the practice of Christian counselling.

The FCM is an English speaking school and counselling requires the ability to recognise fine shades of meaning. It is therefore essential that applicants have a good command of English and are able to do university-level course work in English. (Written and oral)

Course recognition

The Foundations for Counselling Ministry is accredited by University of the Nations (UofN) and is counted as a foundation course of the University's counselling degree programme.*

This course is recognised as providing a minimum of 200 Guided Learning Hours and is accredited with the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) as a Level 3 counselling training ("Preparation for Counselling Practitioner").

Note: The training hours offered through this course may be used to work towards applying for accreditation with ACC. However, in order to gain full accreditation as a "Counselling Practitioner with ACC", further training hours and counselling practice under supervision are required.

*The University of the Nations offers courses and field assignments in over 140 nations worldwide which may be used toward U of N degrees. U of N is a degree-granting institution (Associate’s,Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and Graduate Diplomas), but carries no U.K. awarding body accreditation and has not applied for accreditation in any nation’s educational system. At the same time various accredited institutions throughout the world have in the past accepted U of N transfer students giving transfer credit for those U of N courses which are comparable to the programmes of the receiving institution.

Programme structure

Field Assignment

Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

During the week fulll-time trainees will be involved in all aspects of running the Earls Court Community Project ECCP including Coffee Bar (Tuesdays & Wednesdays) and Women's Drop In (Thursdays). Even though trainees will not be directly involved in formal 1-2-1 counselling, there may be an opportunity to join a Counselling Reflection Team at the Family Counselling Centre in Clapham.

Lectures

Days: Monday evening, Friday

Over the two terms the lectures will cover some basic concepts within Christian counselling and the central place of the Holy Spirit as the Counsellor. Lectures will also explore some Christian and secular models of counselling, the specific needs of people living in urban situations and how they can be addressed.

Course content covered during lectures:

An average FCM week

Tutorials and Learning Support

Since the individual support of trainees is regarded as vital, the number of trainees accepted on our Foundations for Counselling Ministry School is limited (Max. 8 trainees). Throughout the course tutors provide regular support to enable trainees to face and address issues of concern in their personal lives and studies.

Learning Resources

The FCM library holds a range of books in counselling and other related subject areas. Computers in the ECCP office have high-speed internet access and are made available for trainees use whenever possible. It is possible to print from these computers to the printers in the main office at a small charge.

Personal Study

There is an expectation that trainees are self motivated in their studies and work. An initial reading list will be provided following acceptance on the course and trainees will be required to read a number of books throughout the nine months.
Over the length of the course trainees will be required to invest between four and five hours of personal study each week. This includes time spent on reading, writing essays, personal learning journal, counselling practice and tutorials.

Assessment

Assignments will be a mixture of written and and practical work. Over the length of the school trainees are expected to complete regular course work, keep a weekly Personal Learning Journal, write an essay and submit a video-tape in which they demonstrate their counselling skills.
Additionally they will complete and present a small counselling research project using the large and growing book library provided.

Attendance

To successfully complete the course, trainees need to pass all units and have a minimum attendance of 85% at lectures.

Earls Court Community Project Photo Gallery

* From 22nd December - 26th December all FCM trainees will be involved in the 5 Day Christmas Party run by the Earls Court Community Project.

Students may pay their course fee in full during registration day or in two instalments in the first week of each term. The course fee (which is paid to FCM directly) include lectures, accommodation in a shared room, ACC student fee, a residential counselling seminar (accommodation, full-board, seminar workbook) and various course material.

EARLY BIRD:

Get a £ 100.00 discount on your FCM course fees, if your application* has been received by 30th June.

*includes application form, necessary reference forms, application fee and medical report

Breakdown of Course Fee / Accommodation:

The personal expenses below are the estimated costs for living in the FCM accommodation and commuting to / from the Earls Court Community Project by bus. The estimates are the minimum each trainee will need when living and working in London for 6 month.

Breakdown of Estimated Pesonal Expenses:

FCM application form & application process for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein

FCM application form & application process for all other citizens