Wellspring Therapy and Training, the Harrogate-based counselling and training centre, is about to celebrate its 20th birthday.
The charity provides affordable short and long-term counselling for people in the Harrogate district.
Founded in 2003, it now faces unprecedented demand for its help tackling issues such as mental health and depression.
The Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds and a patron of Wellspring, is leasing a service at St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck on Sunday, October 15.
Wellspring is also holding a fundraising dinner at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate on Friday November 17.
Emily Fullarton, executive director of Wellspring, said:
“This is a very special year for us. These two exciting events are celebrating how a small local charity has survived and thrived during the past 20 years and how we have tackled the problem of increasing poor mental health, anxiety and depression, which has threatened to overwhelm the NHS.
Read more:
Founding director Elaine Wainaina set up Wellspring as a Christian-based organisation to help those struggling with anxiety and depression but it soon extended its services to everyone who needed them.
Wellspring moved from a terraced house in Prospect Road, Starbeck into nearby St Andrew’s Vicarage after it was bought for the charity by the Bramall Foundation.
This has enabled the organisation to expand its services in the Harrogate area since 2018 and to relieve the burden on the NHS.
Wellspring hopes to counsel 170 this year and 220 by the end of 2025. It helps children as young as eight.
Ms Fullarton said:
“In the UK, one in four people will experience a mental health issue at least once in their lifetime. According to local research, many people in Harrogate assume because it is a ‘nice town’ people don’t struggle with these issues. That simply isn’t true. There is a huge demand in Harrogate for our services and it’s increasing.
“What makes Wellspring’s work unique in is that we offer affordable long-term, open-ended counselling where needed. Unfortunately, this type of therapy is not currently widely available from the NHS. Most private counselling typically costs between £50 or more for each session, but many of our clients are unable to afford this.”
Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity
A new head of fundraising has been appointed at a Harrogate counselling and training charity.
Kennie Cheung, whose experience includes time at Oxfam and a cancer charity in her native Hong Kong, joins Wellspring Training and Therapy in Starbeck.
Emily Fullarton, the executive director of Wellspring, said demand for mental health care had risen and was continuing to grow since the covid pandemic. She added:
“In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue at least once in their lifetime. According to local research, many people in Harrogate assume because it is a ‘nice town’ people don’t struggle with these issues. That simply isn’t true.
“There is a huge demand in Harrogate for our services and it’s increasing. The NHS, which is responsible for mental health care, simply can’t cope.”
Wellspring offers affordable counselling from just £5 per hour to people who cannot afford to pay for private appointments and who face long waiting lists on the NHS.
Clients can have short-term support or a long-term course of sessions with a qualified counsellor, depending on their needs.
Kennie said:
“This is a dream job for me. The political situation in Hong Kong, combined with the fact that our son Samuel is studying at University of Leeds, meant that we wanted to relocate to England and, in particular, Yorkshire.
“Harrogate is the most wonderful town – and I count myself incredibly blessed to have found a job here, which is suited to my skills and which is so worthwhile. I look forward to making new friends and contacts here and to reach out to individuals and businesses who are keen to help such a brilliant mental health charity like Wellspring.”
Read more:
Great British Menu chef appointed at Ripon hotel
A leading Yorkshire chef has been appointed to lead the pan-Asian restaurant at Grantley Hall.
Samira Effa will be head chef at Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, joining the five-star hotel from TRUEfoods where she was a senior production chef.
She is widely known for competing in the 2019 and 2020 series of Great British Menu, showcasing Yorkshire produce as well as her love of diverse cooking techniques and flavours thanks to her Iranian mother and Nigerian father.
The Huddersfield-born chef said:
“I’m honoured for the opportunity and so excited to be joining the Bar & Restaurant EightyEight team and know that with my breadth of knowledge across the industry, I’m ready to showcase some exciting flavours and bring new ideas to the EightyEight menu.
“I’ve always had a passion for food and with my parents’ rich backgrounds, it was common for us at home to cook together using traditional Iranian and Nigerian recipes – both of which are bursting with flavour. I can’t wait to get stuck in at EightyEight and bring my own flair to the restaurant which I know is a popular spot for hotel guests and diners alike.”
Simon Crannage, executive head chef at Grantley Hall, added:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Samira to the Grantley Hall family and are very excited to see what she brings to Bar & Restaurant EightyEight.
“Samira has an exceptional culinary track record, along with having a genuine passion and love for food that I know will translate into her dishes for our diners to enjoy.”
Ripon Cathedral hosts concert to raise money for mental health
Ripon Cathedral will play host to a concert this coming weekend to raise money and awareness for a local mental health charity.
Wellspring Therapy and Training, which is based in Starbeck, provides affordable counselling to people suffering from mental illness.
Harrogate concert pianist Julian Saphir and soprano Eleanore Cockerham, a former member of internationally-acclaimed singing group VOCES8, will star in the November 12 concert, which is called A Night to Remember.
They will be joined by local choirs and performers, including Nidd Chorale, Unity Voices, Harrogate Theatre Choir, and St Aidan’s School Chamber Choir.
The concert also aims to raise awareness by exploring themes of memory and thanksgiving.
Concert Co-ordinator, David Moon, said:
“This event is a wonderful opportunity to explore and experience the power music has on our mood and raise money for Wellspring, which is providing a vital wellbeing service in our local community.”
Read more:
Referrals to Wellspring shot up during covid, forcing the charity to temporarily suspend its waiting list. Operations have now returned to normal and the charity has supported over 700 people in the last year.
Sarah James, therapeutic lead for the charity, said:
“Our counsellors are frequently working with adults who present with depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, relationship issues, low self-esteem, emotional abuse, loss of confidence and stress. Many people we support have been signposted to us for more in-depth/long-term therapeutic work that is too expensive for many people to fund for themselves.”
The concert begins at 7pm on November 12. Tickets start at £12 for adults and £5 for children, and are available online here.
Harrogate charity sees 44% increase in counselling referralsA Harrogate charity has reported a 44% increase in demand for its counselling services in recent months.
Wellspring Therapy and Training, which provides affordable professional counselling for people suffering with their mental health, said it expected demand for its services to continue to rise.
News of its extra demand coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day today.
A total of 65% of adults and 75% of young people nationally have said their mental health has worsened since the pandemic.
Wellspring’s centre remains closed as it continues to offer video and telephone counselling.
It offers counselling at a price chosen by the individual, according to their situation, meaning it could be as little as £5.
Freya, who did not wish to reveal her real name, has used Wellspring’s counselling service throughout lockdown.
The charity expects its referral rate to continue to rise as the long-term effects of lockdown are felt.
She said:
“All these emotions were sitting there like a great weight, but not going anywhere. After my first counselling session at Wellspring, I came away with such a sense of relief and gratitude. When lockdown happened, we ended up doing video calls instead.
“It’s lifted so much of the pressure and the anxiety. I also think I’m more able to deal with things when I do experience difficult emotions now. I am able to move forwards and think about the future. I’d highly recommend Wellspring and encourage anyone weighed down by life’s pressures to get in touch and see a counsellor. It’s a safe place.”
Read more:
- Harrogate charity receives grants to continue offering support to vulnerable members of the community.
- WATCH as one boy finishes running 465 miles for mental health charity.
Lockdown has amplified anxieties over issues such as money, jobs and social interaction.
The charity is passionate about helping those who are struggling to find hope again.