Visitors to a Lincoln counselling centre’s open day were left impressed by its facilities, wide range of services and the fact that it is now delivering 800 therapy sessions a month!
The Naomi Watkins Counselling Hub CIC (NWCH CIC) welcomed the city’s Mayor Councillor Jackie Kirk and Sheriff Stephen Dixon, previous clients and other guests, including those who praised the dedication of its staff and expressed an interest in working with them.
The event offered people the chance to hear how the Hub has expanded to be based out of three neighbouring units on the city’s Allenby Industrial Estate. Guests were able to tour counselling rooms designed to put everyone from young children to teenagers and older adults at their ease and to check out the centre’s training facilities.
They also chatted to Chief Executive Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska, spoke to counsellors about their work, met the Hub’s therapy dogs Ellie and Joy, were entertained by professional singer Matt James and tucked into a tasty buffet provided by Thomas2 in Lincoln.
“Demand for our services rocketed during the Coronavirus pandemic and for many months our team of counsellors was forced to transition to supporting clients online and over the telephone. Today, we are as busy as ever, but thankfully our therapists have been able to get back to offering face-to-face sessions,” said Naomi.
“It was good to talk to people about that and how we recently won nearly £50,000 in funding, which has allowed us to launch three support groups – #ManChat, TALA (The Anti Loneliness Alliance) and The Willow Project (Young People’s Suicide Prevention initiative). NWCH has also appointed a part-time sexual violence therapist and the Hub now boasts its own App.”
These developments are thanks to a mix of funding from Lincolnshire County Council, NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the Bromhead Medical Trust – supported by Lincolnshire SHINE and funding from Lincolnshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner.
Open day visitor and NWCH panel member Teri Wright said: “As a panel member, I have watched how much the Hub has grown and developed over the years and how much hard work and dedication Naomi puts in.
“Both of my children and husband have attended the Hub for counselling and we can honestly say that the service and support provided is outstanding. It was great to meet more of its ever-growing team during the open day and to see its great new training rooms.
Visitor Joanna Louise Watts was delighted to go “behind the scenes” at NWCH because she is keen to progress her career and help more people in distress to get their lives back on track.
“As an independent counsellor working in the Lincolnshire area it is fantastic that there are collaborative and training opportunities for other counsellors across the local area,” she said.
Lucy Gent, who is a parenting specialist from Gent-L Parenting, is equally interested in working with NWCH.
“I support families with managing sleep problems, toileting behaviour, self-esteem and parenting. It has been wonderful to see the fabulous facilities here at NWCH and to meet members of the team,” she said.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with Naomi and her colleagues.”
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