City Counselling Charity Wins National Recognition for Excellence in Practice.

The Milton Keynes City Counselling Centre (CCC), a small local charity based in the City centre, has received national recognition from its accrediting body, the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists (BACP). At the BACP's Annual Conference on 9 th October in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the CCC was presented with the 2009 Excellence in Practice Award for its work in providing an easily accessed, free counselling service to the population of Milton Keynes.

The BACP states that this award “aims to reward excellence and high standards in counselling and psychotherapy practice”. It also rewards projects that have helped more people get access to counselling therapy and shown how effectively it can improve their quality of life.

The CCC was selected by tender in 2007 to run an 18-month pilot project for the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust (PCT). Under this pilot scheme, Milton Keynes GPs have been referring patients directly to the CCC for an initial assessment and then up to 6 counselling sessions paid for by the PCT where appropriate. As a well-established local charity that has provided counselling in the city since 1992, the City Counselling Centre was considered to be an ideal partner for delivery of this service, which has worked so successfully that the pilot has recently been extended for a third year

"The Pilot PCT counselling service is an excellent example of the commitment of staff, counsellors and volunteers of the City Counselling Centre in developing and delivering a central service in a very short timescale for 27 GP practices in Milton Keynes”, said CCC Chief Executive Diana Savage. “We enjoy an excellent relationship with our partners, the PCT, who have been very supportive”. She also praised the work of service co-ordinator Lynda Riecken, administrator Helen Halliday and the team of 25 counsellors, who between them have dealt with almost 4,000 referrals from GPs since the project was set up. This is well in excess of expectations owing to the effects of the economic downturn.

The CCC continues runs a wide range of other counselling services, operated by volunteers and funded by MK Council, MK Community Foundation and from grants and donations.
For further information contact: Deborah Mitchell (MKCCC Trustee) on 07810 762142 or Diana Savage, MKCCC Chief Executive on 01908 231131.

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Annual General Meeting 2009

This year’s AGM went extremely well with around 75 guests, including the Mayor Cllr Euan Henderson and representatives from many of our funders e.g. MK Council and the Primary Care Trust to name but a few. The theme for the event on June 11th was “Volunteering – the heart of the CCC”. The audience was treated to and moved by personal accounts from current and former volunteers about their experiences with the CCC, in many cases life-changing.
Thanks to Kelly, Colleen, Debbie, Anne and Smita who stepped up to the mark for the benefit of the audience. Sara and Kelly (also volunteers) then told of their feelings of loss around the sad closure of the CHATS Children’s Counselling Service which has supported so many children and their parents during its 11 year existence.
	In keeping with the theme of valuing the contribution of volunteers to the CCC Diana presented 5 volunteers with a Hydrangea each to recognise 10 years’ service. As always the meeting started with the official business, led by the Trustees.
After the official business and the presentations the guests enjoyed the now famous CCC buffet spread, and had chance to network and catch up with colleagues and associates
		The date of next year’s AGM has already been fixed so make a note of Thursday, June 10th 2010 in your diary!

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