Counselling organisation launches crowdfunding drive

A Lincoln-based counselling organisation, which supported hundreds of clients throughout the Coronavirus pandemic – has launched a fundraising drive to help scores more people in urgent need of their “life-saving” services.

Professionals working at The Naomi Watkins Counselling Hub CIC, which says it has seen a huge surge in demand from its help over the past 18 months, is taking the crowdfunding route to raise £10,000, so that it can help those on its fast-growing waiting list, many of whom cannot pay for support.

At the height of the pandemic, NWCH – which is based on the city’s Allenby Business Park – was determined clients would not miss their sessions, despite being forced into lockdown, having to work from home and care for school children.

Although chief executive Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska’s team was supporting 800 individuals a month, counsellors managed to continue their valuable work by transitioning from face-to-face sessions to providing telephone and online counselling.

“So many people’s mental health was suffering because they couldn’t socialise with family and friends, missed the workplace camaraderie and had to help children with their schoolwork,” said Watkins-Ligudzinska.

“We have received some fantastic feedback from our former and current clients and now we want to help people on our waiting list – who can include individuals from children aged four to young people and adults.

“This work is urgent because we know everyone’s mental and physical health has been strained by all sorts of issues, including the often-hidden trauma of sexual, child and domestic abuse, as well as self-harm, suicide ideation and, of course, bereavement.

“We know they urgently need our help, but the pandemic has really stretched our resources, so we hope our crowdfunding campaign will give us the necessary financial support we need to reduce, or even clear our waiting list,” said Naomi.

Watkins-Ligudzinska’s Crowdfunder campaign has not only received the full support of her colleagues at the Hub, but many sponsors have stepped forward with a range of offers to encourage people to donate in the hope the campaign reaches its target.

Donations promise to make a real difference to so many more lives, said Watkins-Ligudzinska, and people can find out more and pledge their support by visiting: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/nwch