Hornchurch counselling service to expand with £500k National Lottery funding boost

You and Me Counselling, based in North Street, Hornchurch, has been given the money by the National Lottery Community Fund.

The funding will help the charity to extend its counselling services for disadvantaged children and young people in areas including Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest.

This means the charity can continue providing free therapy and set up more sites, offering professional and culturally sensitive support.

The charity’s founder and CEO, Bolaji Olagunju, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can continue to provide compassionate, accessible counselling for young people in our community who might otherwise struggle to get help.

“This funding will make a real difference to children’s wellbeing and mental health.”

With a growing demand for mental health services, many children face long waiting times or expensive charges for help.

The new project will allow You and Me Counselling to give free therapy and support to an additional 200 children and young people over the next four years. This will help ensure children get the help they need without delay.

You and Me Counselling is focused on early intervention, inclusivity, and community wellbeing. The charity works in some of the most deprived areas of the region, making sure more young people can get the support they need close to home.

The team has expressed their gratitude to National Lottery players, whose contributions enable such projects to take place.

National Lottery players help raise over £30 million every week for good causes throughout the UK.

The National Lottery Community Fund, as the largest community funder in the UK, distributes more than £600 million annually, supporting thousands of community projects. The fund aims to support people in bringing their ideas to life and strengthening communities.

You and Me Counselling’s latest funding will certainly aid in fulfilling this mission, as it continues to expand its services to meet the needs of more young people.