Surge in demand for mental health help prompts fundraiser for new South Shore community counselling hub

Counselling in the Community, a donation-based mental health service on Derby Road in North Shore had to open seven days a week to meet the demand of 100 patients weekly during the coronavirus pandemic.

The surge in demand for mental health services prompted manager Stuart Hutton-Brown and his team of 45 volunteers to plan the opening of an additional, bigger premises in South Shore.

They want to transform the former Ablemarle jewellers and pawnbrokers on Waterloo Road into a community hub, providing more invaluable mental health support to Fylde coast residents.

The counselling team will also work together with local businesses to provide therapeutic services including crafting, yoga and art, and by selling locally-produced wares to generate an income.

But as patients are not required to pay for the service, an increased demand paired with the rising costs of using PPE equipment forced the project to a halt.

A fundraiser has now been set up to help the counsellors begin renovation work as soon as possible, in a bid to see more mental health patients as Christmas approaches.

Mr Hutton-Brown said: "We are seeing so many people every week now that we've had to open seven days a week until 8pm at Derby Road, and the new South Shore centre will be the same.

"We were hoping to get it all finished and open before Christmas, because we know that the combination of Covid and Christmas will mean a lot more people will need help.

"We're going to stay open as much as we possibly can over Christmas to be there for everyone.

"I already know that if we were to open in the South of Blackpool as well, we'd end up seeing so many more people, that's why we need to do it."

Many of the mental health sufferers visiting the Derby Road hub are NHS referrals, he said, and the coronavirus pandemic had "added a new layer" to mental health problems on the Fylde coast.

You can support Counselling in the Community by donating to its fundraiser here, and by sharing their appeal on social media using #outwiththegold .

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