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 for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). At the BACP's Annual Conference on 9th 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 2011

The theme of our 2011 AGM was partnership with our Member Organisations and other local bodies, highlighting benefits of working together in today’s challenging voluntary sector environment.
We invited three speakers: Emma Bacon from BalancED MK - who started this group dealing with eating disorders herself and, under the guidance of Diana Savage, developed it into a CCC Member Organisation. Neil Coolman of Thames Valley Police, representing local partnership Safer MK, which has funded the CCC to provide counselling for victims of anti-social behaviour; and Emma Barnes, formerly with the NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and now a consultant to the CCC’s Development group. Each speaker brought their own perspective on the experience of working with the CCC, and below are some quotes from the presentations. “The City Counselling Centre is the professional equivalent of a loving, stable home or parent ... they want to see you spread your wings, but in times of trouble you can always go back.”
Emma Bacon, BalancED MK	Neil Coolman, Safer MK

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