AGM Celebrates the Good Work Achieved by the Kernos Centre

South Suffolk MP, James Cartlidge, Sudbury Town Mayor Cllr. Sue Ayers and Cllr Jack Owen, previous Town Mayor, with Babergh Councillors Jan and Adrian Osborne, Chairman of Babergh District Council, were among the guests, volunteers and staff present at the Kernos Centre’s 18^th AGM on Friday, 25^th February, to hear about the vital work the Kernos Centre continues to do in counselling local people, suffering with emotional and psychological problems.

Kernos Chairman Graham Hill, on behalf of the Board, thanked everyone attending the event at the Christopher Centre in Sudbury for their interest and support, especially Town Mayor Cllr. Sue Ayres, and Cllr. Jack Owen for choosing the Kernos Centre as one of their Mayor’s charities to be supported during their term of office, and Adrian Osborne, Chairman of Babergh District Council for choosing Kernos Centre as his chosen charity to support, during his term of office.

Suffolk Community Foundation, Babergh District Council, Sudbury Town Council, and Great Cornard Parish Council, were also thanked for their continuing donations and grants, as were other organisations, with their logos shown on a slide. These donations have helped enable Kernos to support in excess of  4,430 people from the local community – aged from 5 to 93 – since its opening in March 2003.

Kernos Treasurer Peter Brown pointed out that:  “Donations, client contributions and grants are more difficult to obtain since lockdown, which has impacted on the Kernos Centre’s  revenue. However, we are continually seeking additional funding, in order to properly support those who need help”.

He went on to say:  “When you consider that a child taken into care for six months can cost £30,000 or a hospital bed for a mental health patient can cost anything up to £100,000 for 6 months,, it is clear that early intervention by Kernos is not only good for those who need help but also makes sound financial sense for the community”.

After listening to Kernos Counsellor Carly Maxim, who presented an anonymised case study example of the therapy the Centre undertakes, there were many comments about the necessity of Kernos, and the good work achieved by the Centre.

James Cartlidge, MP stood and spoke of his continued support for the charity and how he had referred some of his constituents for counselling at the Kernos Centre, and the improvement in well- being it had made. He spoke of how he had campaigned for more financial support for mental health and how important that was to obtain.

Town Mayor, Cllr. Sue Ayers and Cllr. Jack Owen and Cllrs. Adrian and Jan Osbourne  all expressed their continued support for the Kernos Centre and also affirmed to the Kernos Board how worthwhile the work the Kernos Centre does is and how important it is that it can continue.