Cash boost for counselling service
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Younger people with relationships difficulties will be helped by an Inverness-based counselling service thanks to a £1000 grant from Cairngorm Group.
Anita Parker, chairwoman of Counselling Highland which received the money, said: “Our evidence is that financial hardship is often a key factor leading to relationship problems – and the current energy costs and food prices scenario adds to that pressure.
“We have 25-30 clients a week meeting face-to-face with a trained counsellor at our offices in View Place – but the pandemic has triggered a major rise in us providing online counselling.
“It can be costly and time-consuming getting from, say, Achiltibuie to an appointment with us in Inverness, so online has proved a significant success and we counsel people as far away as Skye.”
Counselling Highland, part of Relationships Scotland but with its own local board of directors, does valuable work dealing with couples, inter-family issues, and those struggling to cope with the breakdown of relationships.
Service manager Sarah Speakman said: “Faulty communication is often the issue and we wish many people had come to us sooner.
“We offer support to everyone aged over 16 experiencing relationships difficulties – whether they’re married, single, living together, in civil partnerships, divorced or separated.
“Cairngorm’s generous grant will allow us to assist couples and individuals, particularly aged between 25 and 40, and those with young families, to secure free or subsidised counselling.”
Liz Campbell, assistant manager of Counselling Highland, stressed the service includes the most remote and sparsely populated areas.
“Where communities are already fragile, family relationships are crucial to their resilience,” she said. “We’re able to foster not just the mental health and wellbeing of our clients, but also of children and younger people affected by unresolved family conflict.”
Cairngorm’s assistance is provided from Jennifer’s Fund, set up by the windows manufacturer in memory of Jennifer McBurnie. Her father David Dowling is chairman of Cairngorm Group while her brothers Chris and Scott are joint managing directors.
Chris said: “We’re very pleased to be able to help this key local charity. This is a time of year, in particular, where relationships can come under stress. When budgets are tight and people are struggling, counselling can be invaluable and this is an excellent service.”
