We're providing a much needed counselling service

Our Looking Up project, which provides mental health support to local people, has developed a one to one counselling service, run by our staff and volunteer counsellors from local colleges.

 The one to one sessions involve talking therapies, and are a way of taking a different approach to helping people overcome the barriers they face into employment. Over the two years the service has been running, over 660 hours of counselling has been delivered to clients signed up to the project.

 Volunteer students from Grimsby University and North Lindsey College have supported various sessions, to use as evidence towards a BSc in Counselling. The voluntary placements allow each student to gain valuable experience, and understand what it takes to work in the counselling profession.

 Lavinia Freeman, Mental Health Specialist & Clinical Supervisor from our Employment Support Team said: “Having this service not only takes pressure off local services, which often have lengthy waiting lists, but it also enables us to offer an extra service to clients, to ensure all of their needs are met.  

“Counselling we’ve provided has helped make lasting, positive changes to people’s lives, by reducing their stress and anxiety, improving relationships with others and just generally being more confident.

“We’d love to support even more local people in the future, and welcome qualified counselling volunteers to help us offer this service. If you’re currently studying and need experience, get in touch with us.”

The project would not be possible without the £100,000 grant that we have been awarded, for the third year running, from the DWP Flexible Support Fund which pays for the three staff at Ongo Communities who deliver this much needed service