10 Nov BLOG: Two Years of Support for Mental Health from C&C Group
In 2021 we were delighted to welcome market-leading software and business services provider C&C Group as a corporate partner of Oakleaf. Nearly two years on, we want to highlight the positive impact their support has had on Oakleaf clients and the services we provide.
“At the beginning of 2021, staff and management at C&C Group wanted more than ever to contribute back to society and particularly help those that have and are suffering with mental health.” – C&C Group CEO, Matt Hartley
Through the partnership C&C Group has provided substantial financial contributions, undertaken Mental Health First Aid training, volunteered at client events and are currently supporting our Christmas present drive.
Over the two years, C&C Group has funded the equivalent of 480 counselling sessions at Oakleaf with an experienced BACP-registered counsellor, available for particularly vulnerable Oakleaf individuals facing challenging or complex mental ill-health – sessions which people would not otherwise have access to. This makes a huge difference in the lives of people attending Oakleaf.
“Counselling was amazing and has helped me enormously.” – Oakleaf client
Counselling is one of our most sought-after services. We have seen an increase in demand for our services by 27% overall since the pandemic, and as we continue through the cost-of-living crisis and economic uncertainty we certainly expect this to continue.
Our counselling uses a person-centred modality working with the three core conditions of Empathy, Congruence and Unconditional Positive Regard, thereby creating space to explore feelings, emotions and trauma while working toward some form of resolution. Private counselling elsewhere is prohibitively expensive for our clients and NHS waiting lists are often many months longer than our own. Thanks to supporters like C&C Group, at Oakleaf more local people struggling with mental ill-health will receive counselling when they need it.
“I found the counselling sessions extremely helpful and enabled me to get through life more easily.” – Oakleaf client
The outcomes of our counselling service are very positive. To give an example, across 160 clients in the last financial year the average for outcome ‘your ability to cope with the issues you wish to address in counselling’ rose from 2.5 before counselling to 3.9 (out of 5.0) after counselling.
What does this look like in practice? Russell, a past client and current member of staff, says “Counselling at Oakleaf lasted 12 weeks and gave me the opportunity to process thoughts and feelings in a safe space and gain perspective on my life. One of the results of my experience at Oakleaf was that I decided to apply to college, and I am now in my third year studying for a level 4 diploma in counselling and psychotherapy.”
A huge thank you to C&C Group for their ongoing support.
C&C Group provide market leading software solutions and products in the cloud to national UK critical infrastructure companies operating in the electricity, gas, water and the pharmaceutical sectors. Find out more on their website: https://www.candc-uk.com/
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please make use of the resources below:
Oakleaf: 01483 303649 | info@oakleaf-enterprise.org
SABP Crisis Helpline: 0800 915 4644
Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours)
Mind: How to Find a Therapist
Citizens Advice: 03444 111 444 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
Surrey Safe Havens: 6-11pm, 365 days a year
Here at Oakleaf we will continue to do all we can to improve the lives of people managing mental ill-health in Surrey, to promote awareness and to create a stigma-free community where mental health matters.
If you are able to make a donation to Oakleaf and help fund vital mental health and wellbeing support, please click here. To all those who already support Oakleaf – we can’t thank you enough.
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