A project to help vulnerable people in Coventry tackle mental health problems can continue and expand through a BIG Lottery Fund grant announced today.

The grant is from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme that aims to improve the lives of people and communities in need across England.

Abacus Counselling Services Ltd has received a grant of £267,297 to run its Reaching New Communities service which offers free counselling support to people from vulnerable groups who are suffering from anxiety, stress, depression or trying to cope with the problems of low self-esteem and a lack of confidence.

The need for counselling is increasing with levels of debt, or a sudden loss of employment due to redundancy. Need can also emerge following bullying in school or difficulties with family relationships. Beneficiaries will also include ex-offenders facing the challenge of trying to re-integrate into their community. Individuals in need of counselling are referred by health and social care groups, or refer themselves for help with mental health issues.

By engaging paid workers and increasing the number of volunteers involved in the project, the organisation plans to expand existing areas of work, including the ex-offenders programme, the family mediation work and the anti-bullying scheme.

New aspects of the organisation's work will comprise the provision of end-to-end support services, which will include confidence and motivation coaching and anger management techniques.

As well as one-to-one work, the project will offer outreach services to a range of organisations, including schools, local employers, homelessness projects and domestic violence groups.

Mary Morris, Senior Counsellor and Manager, said: “A lot of our clients are members of the Coventry community who cannot afford to access counselling. Getting the grant means we can expand our existing service and extend our counselling model into the wider community. We can carry on a service that has been running for ten years.”

John Taylor, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the West Midlands, said: “This Lottery grant means vulnerable individuals will be given access to support services they could otherwise not afford. People suffering from a wide range of problems including stress, depression and anxiety linked to various factors, will receive free counselling.”