This grant will enable Help Counselling Services (HCS) to increase their counselling provision in Chippenham, particularly targeting the Queens area in Chippenham East, identified as the second most deprived Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) in Wiltshire.
HCS has been providing affordable, professional counselling across Wiltshire since 1983, supporting people dealing with a range of mental health challenges such as:
- Anxiety and low mood
- Stress and trauma
- Relationship breakdowns
- Bereavement and loss
- Crisis situations including suicidal thoughts
With current funding from the Integrated Care Board via Wiltshire Community Foundation, HCS is delivering 12 counselling sessions to 35 clients in Chippenham during a pilot project.
The funding from Chippenham Borough Lands Charity will enable this capacity to be increased, allowing HCS to support 56 clients a year from their Chippenham base.
Clients receive up to 12 weeks of one-to-one counselling, significantly more than the typical six-week provision offered through statutory services. This extended support helps individuals build resilience, improve wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities.
HCS works alongside a number of local organisations supporting mental health needs in the area, including Wiltshire MIND, Crosspoint, Olive Branch, Rethink Mental Illness, Doorway, and Home Start. Increasing their service delivery in Chippenham will help keep waiting lists short, aiming for an average wait time of 2 to 6 weeks before counselling commences.
The project will have a direct impact on improving access to mental health support in the local area, improving mental health outcomes, building self-confidence and resilience, and addressing isolation and loneliness. This is a highly valued service within the Chippenham community, with demand continuing to grow.
