Kernos Centre has been awarded £5,000 by the Suffolk’s Coronavirus Community Fund project, via Suffolk Community Foundation. ‘Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund is helping to rebuild local lives.’
Tim Holder, head of public affairs for Suffolk Community Foundation, which is running the fund, said: “The usual means of fundraising for these organisations ceased to exist beyond lockdown. At the same time demands on local charities and community groups have been going through the roof. It’s the perfect storm for any charity or community group trying to help vulnerable people through lockdown and beyond.”
For Kernos, when the lockdown happened, we had to close our work at the centre and close our books to new referrals. There were 80 people who were having regular weekly sessions, as well as 60 people on the waiting list, waiting for weekly support.
Everyone at Kernos knew that having someone to talk to is an essential service for people who are already struggling.
Kernos Director of Counselling, Chris Boatwright, said “We are so grateful for this funding helping us deal with the emerging issues due to the Corona Virus. This valuable funding is so important in helping us to sustain our community work with the vulnerable and the disadvantaged people in our part of Suffolk. We are now able to support their mental, psychological health and wellbeing, by extending our service by working remotely, providing video counselling support online and by telephone counselling sessions to current clients and those from our waiting list.
“Supporting emotional and mental health can be even more critical during this period of lockdown, in ensuring problems or issues do not escalate. Working through problems in counselling this way, helps to build resilience and confidence, helping people to stay safe at this time.”
