Our Grant Helps Staff Telephone Counselling Service During COVID-19

We are delighted to be able to offer a Community Grant of £4,000 to Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care to support their telephone helpline and counselling services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people struggling to cope. Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care has been reaching out to encourage anyone feeling isolated, depressed or fearful to call their 24 hour freephone helpline. There is always someone available to listen and to support people struggling with their mental well-being, whether or not as a result of drug or alcohol misuse. They can refer callers into a telephone counselling treatment programme or on to other services as appropriate for them.

This grant will fund the cost of counsellors’ fees and expenses for around 8 people to have an individually tailored programme of 12 one-hour counselling sessions and follow up checks.

Wendy Coad, Telephone Counselling Service Team Leader says, “A huge thank you to the Walton on Thames Charity. Grants like yours enable us to offer more counselling sessions to those who so badly need our help with their mental wellbeing. We have experienced a significant increase in demand for our services in recent weeks; for a great many people, anxiety and depression have been brought on or exacerbated by the current crisis. They are suffering with social isolation and loneliness, abusive relationships, past traumas resurfacing, financial worries, compulsive disorders or the stress of working for the NHS. We work with them to support their recovery and improve their life quality.”

For further information contact:
Website: https://sdac-helpline.co.uk/
Contact for 24/7 confidential helpline: 0808 802 5000 (free from landlines and mobiles)
SMS 07537 432411(for those with hearing difficulties Mon – Fri 9am –2pm)