The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded Kernos Counselling Centre a £9,900 grant for their project ‘Sustaining Vulnerable People through the Corona Virus.’ They said they approved the grant ‘to help your community thrive.’
The Kernos Centre has been recognised as a vital service and is being supported through the pandemic by the Suffolk Community Foundation, Community Corona Virus Fund , Babergh District Council, Sudbury Town Council and now the #NationalLottery National Lottery Community fund.
Chris Boatwright, Director of Counselling said “We are so grateful for the funding received, which is crucial in keeping our services going. The coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact on mental health. The funding will assist our aim to be there for local people who need therapy at this very difficult time, and into the future.
“It means we are able to continue to support our clients’ mental, psychological health and wellbeing, with the extended service of working remotely, providing video counselling support online and by telephone counselling sessions.
“Online counselling has been new to us and it combines with the face to face counselling at the centre, which we have had to stop for now. Using technology in this way will certainly enable us to continue and Kernos will be able to expand by providing both sorts of counselling once we re-open, thanks to this funding.
“Currently 66 clients are continuing with counselling sessions remotely. We are constantly reviewing our waiting list to see if we can help more clients in this way as we go along. Providing support, will ensure that their health and wellbeing does not deteriorate, even further during this pandemic. We know that the problems will be escalating, and that referrals to our service once this pandemic is over will escalate too. The human cost of failing to deliver effective psychological therapies to those that need them in our community is immeasurable. We now know we can continue.”
The Directors of Kernos are carrying out a COVID-19 risk assessment to see when will be able to re-open to face to face counselling again, as and when it is safe to do so.
PICTURE: Suffolk Free Press Mecha Morton …. (36322355)
Sudbury Town Mayor Councillor Jack Owen said “I think they’re an absolutely brilliant charity and well deserving of the National lottery grant. I’m absolutely delighted for them.”
