Page 8 - Thrapston Life June 2024

FANCY A CHAT?
Youth Counselling
Young people, more than ever, are experiencing mental health issues. CHAT Youth Counselling provides free professional counselling for young people in this area.
We are looking for additional trustees to join the existing team to help manage the service provided by the counsellors. In particular, we are looking for people who have fund raising or finance experience, but we welcome all applicants.
Gwen Radcliffe was a member
of the steering group, set up by Oundle Town Council, which established the organisation
in 1997. Over the years she has served as Chairman or Treasurer. The Treasurer role used to involve all the ongoing finance tasks, such
as bookkeeping and payroll, until 2021 when CHAT was able to afford a paid employee.
Now she advises the other Trustees on the management of the Charity’s reserves and budget plans. Gwen is now in the process of preparing her 27th, and hopefully last, set of Annual Accounts for Independent Examination.
Current Chairman, Craig Wilcox, has had an exceptionally busy year. In addition to working full time he was also Town Mayor of Thrapston. Craig chose CHAT Youth Counselling as his
Mayoral charity. His events have raised £5,334.30 so far, which will cover the cost of 6 counselling sessions each for 20 young people.
The strategic objectives now
are, as they have always been, to preserve and protect the emotional and mental health of young people, aged 9-25 years old in Oundle, Thrapston and surrounding villages of the north-east of North Northamptonshire.
Unfortunately recent changes to funding have led to the curtailment
of our work with primary schools. The Trustees are keen to restart this work, which needs some secure funding. If you have bid writing experience this would be an asset to the board.
Peter Burrows, who joined the Trustees
in early 2023, writes: “It’s healthy for any organisation to have a certain turnover of members. It’s been challenging, as a new trustee, to gain a deep understanding of CHAT, its funding and day to day operation. However, I believe that as a new trustee I have been
able to offer suggestions both from my work experience and my time spent working with other charities. It has been a privilege to work with the existing trustees of CHAT and to help this vital local charity prosper.”
CROWSONS FUNERAL DIRECTORS
BARNWELL, OUNDLE & THRAPSTON
Independent family run funeral home for over 120 years
7 Huntingdon Road, Thrapston, Kettering NN14 4NF 01832 734114
8