Working in Partnership

The Somerset Children and Young People’s Counselling Alliance

Counselling in Somerset has been provided by a small number of specialist providers (drug, alcohol, eating disorders, mental health) who, in the main, offer counselling as part of their services to support their beneficiaries’ journey to wellness. Historically, VCSE sector providers have offered counselling to adults 18 plus.

Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group’s (SCCG) Transformation Plan for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing (2015-2020) states that “there are compelling reasons for changing the way mental health services for children and young people are designed and delivered.  A significant factor is “Early intervention avoids young people falling into crisis and avoids expensive and longer-term interventions in childhood and adulthood”.

In response to a SCCG request in May 2020, The Space facilitated a meeting of all providers of counselling services in the County to discuss the benefits to children and young people and commissioners/funders of forming an alliance of counselling providers.  Five months on we have an Alliance of credible and experienced counselling organisations operating to a quality assurance framework and currently we are developing protocols to obtain funds for our much-needed network.

Zillah Morris Services Director from Somerset Counselling Centre said:

“Full participation in the emerging Somerset CYP Alliance, led by The Space, is a priority for the Somerset Counselling Centre in the next 12-24 months.

Our thinking is aligned, the need for optimal and mutually beneficial collaboration, as independent charities will grow our voice, influence, and better deliver the reach of our work across the County.

We want to be an influencing and pro-active part of a wider and integrated mental health and wellbeing offer in Somerset-existing and developing. 

Raising awareness of what counselling is, the role and benefits of counselling is a key opportunity. Producing a proactive and cohesive group of smaller local charities to attract funding and deliver high quality services is a strength currently absent.  This will all result in giving important choice and vital capacity where gaps in provision of emotional wellbeing exist.  Watch this space!”