This year we have teamed up with The Funding Network to help promote and generate funds for our counselling service which each year sees close to 400 people. Unfortunately, just one quarter of those are funded and our waitlist continues to grow. The age of our counselling clients in the last year was between three and ninety years old with a gender split of close to 70% female to 30% male.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Robyn Driver is a firm believer in the benefits of counselling, “Our community shouldn’t feel worried about the financial costs when seeking support through a counsellor. We want to be able to provide a service that is as affordable as possible so that our Franklin community is mentally healthy or taking steps to achieve that.”

Our crowdfunding campaign will be held on the Givealittle website, and we are hoping to generate support from local businesses and individuals to raise at least $15,000. The cost for each counselling session we provide is $60 for a child and $80 for an adult. We aim to fundraise enough money to allow clients 6 sessions of free counselling. Of course, if clients are able, they can choose to pay or contribute towards sessions which helps our funding stretch further.

Counselling changes lives. It helps people understand and manage a range of mental health issues that can affect their own lives and those around them. It can provide a place of safety and security where thoughts and ideas can be explored openly without judgement. Counselling is for everyone and can be used as a tool when mental health is at crisis point or as an ongoing method to ensure day-to-day pressures are managed.