Page 27 - Thrapston Life May 2023

CHAT
Youth Counselling
Since its foundation in 1997, the charity CHAT Youth Counselling has been supporting young people with 1-2-1 counselling. We provide six sessions of professional counselling initially with a review to extend if required.
CHAT works with young people aged 9 to
25 years who live in North Northamptonshire. Our centre of operation is Oundle, however we extend to Thrapston, Brigstock, and the borders of Lincolnshire and Peterborough.
Our work with 11 to 18 year olds, and
those up to 25 years with Special Educational Needs, is funded primarily by the Integrated Care Board and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The rest of our work with 9 and 10 year olds and those aged 18 to 25 (without Special Educational Needs) is dependent on seeking other funding locally.
We provide a professional counselling service at our office in Oundle, Prince William School and at Souster Youth in Thrapston. When working with the younger ages we generally work in the primary schools in our area; Nassington, Kings Cliffe, Aldwincle, Warmington, Thrapston, Titchmarsh, and Oundle.
at Souster Youth from 4pm to 8pm every Wednesday for 11-18 years olds and/or their parents. Here, we offer advice for those in a difficult or crisis situation, and signpost to various methods of support. We provide this service as part of REACH, a co-operation between five organisations, who together cover the whole of the county.
A project under consideration is the provision of group sessions in the primary schools to support growing needs in areas such as anxiety, anger, exam stress, friendship issues, low self-esteem, bullying and self-harm. We have provided self-harm toolkits and information
for all pupils at Prince William School. With appropriate funding we expect to continue this annually.
We have a Board of Trustees, along with one volunteer, who all work and/or live within the area where we operate.
Professionals, parents and young people themselves can refer to us and we can be contacted by phone, email or through our website: 01832 272445 - info@ chatyouthcousnelling.org.uk www.chatyouthcounselling.org.uk.
We run a Wellbeing Café in Thrapston
27