Inspiring Business by Sharing Success

Triple funding win for counselling hub

Triple funding win for counselling hub

Counsellors in Lincoln, are celebrating three successful funding bids – adding a boost of nearly £75,000 for the Naomi Watkins Counselling Hub (NWCH)!

NWCH has scooped its first National Lottery win and further financial help from The Bromhead Medical Trust and The Key Fund, helping it to continue supporting hundreds of children, young people and adults across Lincolnshire, and to fulfil its ambition of expanding to meet an ever-increasing demand for its services.

It’s great news for Chief Executive Officer Naomi Watkins and fellow co-founder and Director Alex Parkin, fellow non-executive directors and the 20 specialist counsellors now working out of the Hub.

Nadine Daubney, who joined NWCH in January and recently became a non-executive director, took on the added responsibility of Bid Writer a couple of months ago and has an extra reason to be delighted – the National Lottery application for £10,000, was her first bid for the organisation.  

Naomi Watkins said:

“We are absolutely over the moon with our triple success. Since we opened our doors 18 months ago, more than 600 clients have been referred to us. 

“In addition to the National Lottery Award, we have been given nearly £25,000 by The Bromhead Medical Trust and a massive £40,000 by The Key Fund. Together, they reflect major organisation’s belief in us and our determination to continue helping existing and new clients.

“The National Lottery Fund money will allow us to help children and young adults between the ages of four and 25-years-old, who have been the victims of rape and other sexual abuse, through our year-long Snowdrop Project.

“Within months of starting our business, which now operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC), we received £25,000 from The Bromhead Medical Trust for our Acorn Project, which has allowed us to offer free counselling to children and young people between the ages of four and 18-years-old. The Trust’s latest award of £25,000 extends that for another year.

“The generous boost of £40,000 from The Key Fund, follows the £60,000 they gave us earlier this year.  In both cases, this funding comes in the form of a part-loan and part-grant,” said Naomi. 

“It will allow us to employ a Hub Co-ordinator on a full-time basis.  This is essential if we are to meet our ambitions to grow even further, to renovate and expand our premises to create three more dedicated counselling rooms.”

Nadine said:

“I joined the Hub at the start of this year in a counselling capacity but, because I have a business and project management background, I had the opportunity to take on Bid Writing, which led me to submit the application for National Lottery funding. 

“It is highly competitive, but we were thrilled that the Hub won the maximum amount of money that we asked for, £10,000, and this gives us a great opportunity to establish a relationship with the National Lottery Awards team going forwards.

“I am also delighted to have accepted the invitation to become one of NWCH’s non-executive directors. It is a real honour.” added Nadine.

NWCH receives referrals from charity organisations, schools, Macmillan nurses, GPs, drug and alcohol services, the Probation Service, and other medical professionals.

Increasing demand for its counselling services has seen the CIC already expand to have six counselling rooms and lease a second building, to offer sector training and Continuous Professional Development courses for counsellors and the general public. The team is now keen to offer its help to more people across Lincolnshire and beyond.

*NWCH is having an extra busy month.  On October 17, the CIC is staging the high-profile #ManChat Conference at The Showroom in Lincoln.  This event will explore anxiety, depression and other mental health issues which are now driving up to 84 men in the UK to end their lives by suicide.  The Conference will feature top-flight speakers, who have all overcome mental health issues, and specialist workshops.

 


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