Community Involvement

Based on St Giles Street, Northampton, the service has, over the years, developed a good rapport with a wide variety of other agencies in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Referrals are received from many sources, including local churches.

A telephone service will establish initial contact, then, after a first interview, the person seeking help will normally be offered a series of confidential appointments with one of the team. Although the team counsel from within a Biblical framework, many of their referrals are people with no church background. The Manna House approach is one of meeting people at their point of need regardless of age, creed, race or social standing. Regular work has been done at the two Women's Refuges in town and specialist work is available with an Eating Disorder Group and a Sexual Abuse Survivors' Group. The Stonewalls Project is a service which has been set up within a number of schools provided for children (approximately aged between 9 and 15) who are having difficulty with the loss of a parent through separation, divorce or as a result of bereavement.

Clients write

[A Letter from Matthew, aged 7 - his own spelling and punctuation]

Dear Counsellor,

Here is the letter that I have been promising you. I am verry well and Mummy say's I am being very good at the moment. My mum still untidies my BED "ROOM" ! I hope you like my picture. My mun is being a paine in the nek today she ceeps on SINIG AT THE top of her voice I wood like to see you agine some tome this moth

lots of love Matthew

PS Pleas right Back

Dear Counsellor,

I would like to thank you and Mary very much for "saving my life" at a difficult time! It is such a help to talk things over.

J.H.

Dear Counsellor,

I can't express in words the appreciation and thanks I wish to give you for helping me feel a person again. I shall never forget your kindness and all you have done for me. I am now without a job as my redundancy takes effect and I don't know what the future will hold. But I do know I am now strong enough to face it - thanks to you.

P.H.

Numbers

Clients who are being counselled elsewhere are not normally accepted, except after close consultation with the other party involved. Where the client is referred by a GP, psychiatrist, minister or other agency, the counsellor seeks to work in collaboration where possible. The centre has developed a clear internal and external supervision system and a solid administrative structure. There is no charge for the counselling service, although donations are encouraged, the Manna House estimates it costs a minimum of £15 for each session. All that is asked for is a £5 administration fee upon application for counselling. Financing the counselling department continues to be a challenge, but for the past nine years, the centre has received a grant from Northampton Borough Council. More recently the Northamptonshire County Council has granted funding which started in 2005. Other sources of funding include local churches, individuals, counsellee donations, charitable trusts, supervision and course fees and rent from the centre's flats.

The counselling project began with a "Godly coincidence" in 1984. The Manna House Management Committee were looking for help with training just as Crusade for World Revival (CWR) were preparing to run a trial of their new counselling course. Amazingly (the late) Selwyn Hughes and Trevor Partridge, then Directors of CWR, personally taught the first group of eight counsellors in Northampton. Each year since then the Manna House has trained new groups of potential counsellors, thus generating an ever-growing team with very different life experiences, areas of interest and skills to meet the wide range of needs that are encountered.

Over the last few years there has been a clear desire to make the service more accessible to people in the county. Therefore in 1995 the first satellite clinic was opened in Kettering, a town twelve miles to the north east of Northampton, and in September 1999 a second satellite was opened in Brixworth, a large village six miles to the north. Both have been developed in partnership with local churches and it is hoped that five or six others will follow in years to come.

The most recent opportunity for one of our counsellors has been to go one day a week into Her Majesty's Prison, Wellingborough. Looking to help long term inmates deal with some of the emotional and behavioural problems is challenging yet rewarding work. There is a possibility that this contract may be extended to two days a week. Some contract work is also ongoing in two GP surgeries and a number of schools in the County through the Stonewalls Project. The service also undertakes Child Protection Interviews for a relief agency in the area. Recently some Occupation Health counselling has been undertaken for a company in the area.

Other centres

The final part of the mission statement of MHCS is :-

"To help and advise, where appropriate, other groups around the country to establish Counselling Centres."

Over the years the Manna House has been able to actively help several other agencies get established in their locality. Regularly groups from around the country visit the centre to learn and be encouraged. There are four agencies with whom very close links have been established.

The first is ECLIPSE, which provides a free counselling service to anybody struggling with addiction issues, particularly those involving drug and alcohol problems. The focus of the counselling service provided by Eclipse is to help people deal with addiction issues at an early stage, through counseling, education and support. Wherever possible Eclipse also provides support for families and parents to help them cope with the pressures of addiction in the home. You can contact Eclipse through www.eclipse-addiction.org.uk.

The second is FAMILY MATTERS, based in Luton, which is an agency working with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. One to one counselling is available, group work and training. More information is available through Trevor Adams on 01582 651011 or by writing to: FAMILY MATTERS, 27 Axe Close, Marsh Farm, Luton, Beds, LU3 3LT.

Most recently there have been two agencies in Bedford with whom teaching and training links have been established.

The first is THE HOPE TRUST COUNSELLING SERVICE, based in Brickhill, Bedford, which is an agency who's vision is to express God's love to the local community by providing a counselling service staffed by trained Christian Counsellors. More information is available by writing to: The Hope Counselling Service, 118 Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7QN. Or email them at counselling@brickhill-church.org.uk. Alternatively their website is www.brickhill-church.org.uk/couns.htm

The second is Bridge Counselling based at BROMHAM BAPTIST CHURCH, in Bromham, Bedford, which is an agency staffed by trained Christian Counsellors, which seeks to provide one to one counselling for all those in need. More information is available through the Pastoral Co-ordinator (Pat Byatt) on 01234 822681 or by writing to: The Pastoral Co-ordinator, Bromham Baptist Church, Village Road, Bromham, Bedford, MK43 8LJ. Or email them at office@bromham.org. Alternatively their website is www.bromham.org

The Stonewalls Project

The "Stonewalls Project" is a programme aimed at children who have experienced the loss of one (or both) parent through separation, divorce or death. Often these children feel that they have hit a 'stonewall' in their lives and they cannot see a way forward from, or beyond this place. There are often associated changes of character and behaviour which affects their ability to relate to others, their concentration and their progress in school.

The programme helps the children to understand that they are not alone in their experiences. It helps them to express their feelings and to know that it is OK to feel angry, anxious, sad and confused. It also aims to address the issue of false guilt that these children often carry because they imagine that in some way they were responsible for what happened, "If only I had been better behaved then ……." The Stonewalls Project uses a range of techniques to help children :-
• Develop self-expression
• Learn appropriate ways of expressing anger and other emotions
• Reach a better understanding of divorce
• Recognise their own uniqueness and self-worth

The programme consists of five one hour sessions (open to some negotiation to fit in with the schools’ preference). These sessions can be offered during school-time, lunch-times or after-school to suit each schools preference and needs. Each child is given an age-appropriate workbook to complete. He/she is invited to draw pictures, write poems or letters etc. Each child has the right to keep any or all of their work confidential.
In addition, those on the programme are encouraged to participate in games, stories and discussions.

An additional session aimed at parents can also be offered. It tries helping them to communicate, support and interact with their children to help them through these difficult times.

Most benefit will be gained from working with groups of 3-6 children at Key Stages 2 and 3. At Key Stage 4 group work or one to one are options to be considered.

This programme has been developed on behalf of the Manna House Counselling Service by an experienced counsellor who has 21+ years experience as a teacher ranging from Key Stage 2 to A-level. All staff involved in running the course are experienced counsellors and are CRB checked. Similar courses have been available in the U.S.A and Canada for a number of years and have been run to good effect. In some states the courses have become compulsory and no divorce would be granted by the courts unless children have completed the programme.

"While there are a number of … counselling services, few of these offer a specific service to children and young people who are finding it difficult to come to terms with the loss of a parent through separation or death. These children and young people are generally displaying varying degrees of disaffection, expressed through lack of motivation, under achievement, poor school attendance and behaviour likely to lead to exclusion."This quote is from a Senior Educational Welfare Officer with a total of eighteen years experience in both urban and rural schools.

The Manna House Counselling Service is a well established counselling organisation, which opened in 1985 serving the needs of Northampton and the surrounding area. Many of its clients are referred by professionals such as GP’s and mental health agencies. The organisation also offers a variety of counsellor oriented training courses both locally and around the country. These courses are run at a variety of levels and are recognised within the FEFC system and run in partnership with Henley College, Coventry.

The advantages of buying into this programme are :-
• Using the expertise of trained and experienced counsellors who are subject to regular supervision.
• A school can buy into the service as and when it needs to.
• Guaranteed confidentiality.
• Some children (and parents) may be more likely to work with external counsellors because they are not seen as part of the ‘establishment’.
• At the end of the programme children who benefit from the sessions should demonstrate better relationship skills, better concentration and behaviour in classes and therefore make better progress and feel happier about every aspect of school life.

The Senior EWO went on to state, “As a result of my experience in the field of educational welfare, I believe that such a project would be beneficial. I would therefore, welcome a service that provides specific support to children, within the school setting.”

It is the aim of the Manna House to offer its counselling services at minimum cost to the consumer. Every attempt will be made to seek external sources of funding to cover some or all the costs of the “Stonewalls” programme. Where external funding is unavailable or insufficient to meet demand, a financial contribution to cover the cost of the six sessions will need to be agreed with the school. This might come out of the school budget or parents’ contribution or a combination of both.

We are always willing to consider possible options, so please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your particular situation and needs.

How to Apply

Who has counselling?

The Manna House Counselling Service (M.H.C.S.) offers a professionally trained service to people with problems. These problems might include a troubled marriage, a crisis - such as bereavement or redundancy - depression or suicidal feelings, emotional trauma, anxiety, relationship breakdown, eating disorders, abuse, or a personal spiritual problem. Male, female, young, old, people of faith or no faith - all are welcome.

What happens next?

To apply for counselling, please either email mhcs@mannahouse.org.uk or fill in the Enquiry Form to request an application form (providing name and postal address). Alternatively click here to print out an application form. Otherwise you can pop into MHCS at 73 St Giles Street or The Manna House Bookshop on St Giles Street or phone on (01604) 633304. Please note: we are unable to offer a telephone counselling service. Once an application form has been received, the client will be telephoned to arrange a First Interview or Initial Assessment, which is normally held between the hours of 9am and 3pm. Please note: we are unable to offer a "drop-in" service. At the First Interview the client will be given a letter to take to their GP. Once the reply is received, the client is placed on the Waiting List for counselling to begin. A series of confidential appointments are offered as soon as the next Counsellor is available. Unfortunately at the moment there is a wait of a matter of months at the moment.

Does it cost anything?

Upon application a payment of £5.00 is asked for to cover administration costs. There is no charge for the counselling service, but it is estimated the cost is at least £15 per session. Any contributions, whether large or small, to the Manna House Counselling Service, will be gratefully received. (Cheques can be made payable to M.H.C.S.).

Where are we located?

The M.H.C.S. is situated at 73 St. Giles Street, in Northampton town centre. The building is next to Bonham's Funeral Directors, near to the St Giles Street Clinic and across the road from the Citizens Advice Bureau. The counselling service entrance is marked MHCS 73. Please see Location Maps for more details.