Lincoln counselling hub awarded £60k funding boost

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Counselling professionals are celebrating a £60,000 funding boost which has allowed them to double the size of their Lincoln hub.

NW Counselling Hub on Allenby Business Park, Crofton Road has been awarded the funding by The Key Fund to build more counselling rooms and lease a second building to use as a dedicated training centre.

The funding is split between a £50,000 loan and a £10,000 grant which will allow the Lincoln hub to help more people and provide future sustainability for their enterprise.

The Lincoln Hub now employs 25 people, including 18 counsellors. Its founders Naomi Watkins and Alex Parkin are delighted with the fast growth of their business and with the support from the University of Lincoln.

Naomi Watkins said: “To receive such important backing less than a year after we opened our doors is amazing.”

“Before the funding we had three counselling rooms. Now we have reconfigured our original premises to create six. Two for children and four for adults.”

“We are seeing people of all ages including a rise in the referral of younger and homeless people. January was an extra busy. People are keen to start 2018 in a better way.”

Alex Parkin said: “With the increasing need for counselling services, we are really proud to have set-up our new training facility and to have the expertise of the University of Lincoln’s staff to call on.”