For those increasingly suffering emotional distress and poor mental health, our affordable counselling service means cost is not a barrier to help, even in a cost-of-living crisis. We see hope restored, resilience deepen and positive change in clients’ lives, only made possible by our fundraising.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
A 2022 survey by Mental Health Foundation confirms that the UK population is experiencing widespread levels of stress, anxiety and hopelessness. Mental health problems and psychological distress have hugely increased across an ever-growing number of adults, young people and children. At Wellspring, demand for mental health services, especially for young people (from age 4 up) in our local community, has more than doubled meaning longer times to be seen and waiting lists that are often full. This is reflected nationally where referrals to children and young people’s mental health services have increased by 400% from 2017 to 2023 in England.
Solution
Since 2003, we have become a trusted and respected source of mental health support and training. Our charity has grown with many volunteer counsellors, and to cope with increasing demand we need to expand our session capacity by 20%; 180-200 sessions per week by end 2025. Counselling children and young people, is a very specialist area where the need is greatest. We are developing an in-house children & young people training courses to develop new counsellors with the aim of supporting an extra 30-60 children every year.