Mental health charity, The Cogwheel Trust is aiming to help more families in Cambridge who are suffering from mental ill health.

In 2018 The Cogwheel Trust provided over 5,000 hours of counselling and since it was founded in 1988 has supported  26,000 people with 90,000 hours of support.

With centres in Cambridge, Ely and Sawston, The Cogwheel Trust has a team of over 40 dedicated part-time counsellors who are able offer a variety of counselling approaches – from psychodynamic therapy to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) from as little as £10 per session.

Mental ill health has a devastating impact on families, and with children needing support to deal with situations at home or in school, or parents who are themselves not always able to be emotionally available to their children, family therapy can make a big difference. Through The Cogwheel Trust’s current services, early intervention has played a vital role in preventing more serious problems from emerging – such as lost work days and refusal to attend school.

Jane Whitten, Community Fundraiser, The Cogwheel Trust, said:

Demand for mental health services is increasing year after year, and we are pleased to have been able to support so many people in accessing essential counselling support in Cambridge again this year. All of our counsellors are professionally trained or in the final stages of their qualification, meaning we are proud to offer high quality counselling, for each and every session.

A beneficiary of The Cogwheel Trust’s counselling service recently commented:

Cogwheel and my counsellor helped me at a time in my life when the rug had been pulled from under me. To have an hour a week in which I could talk with someone who cared and was also so professional and knowledgeable was like an oasis of calm. It meant the world to me and has helped me more than I can say.

Whitten continued:

To make our services affordable we rely on a large cohort of inspirational individuals who volunteer their time to be our counsellors, as well as the financial support we receive from individuals and organisations that support us through donations and fundraising activities. Throughout 2018, The Cogwheel Trust has been delighted to receive support from large businesses and other foundations and charitable organisations, as well as local churches and University of Cambridge colleges – we are incredibly grateful, thank you to everyone who has supported us this year.

To find out more about The Cogwheel Trust and supporting the charity, please visit: cogwheel.org.uk.

Image: The Cogwheel Trust Counselling Team.