Here at Hertfordshire Mind Network we have seen first hand the impact Covid-19 has had on people's mental health. We have been inundated with people wanting to access our counselling service over the last 12 months and our Counselling team have delivered sessions virtually and, where restrictions permit, face to face.

The pandemic has also resulted in people struggling to make ends meet financially. For some job losses, furlough and difficulty getting onto the employment ladder has meant that money has been tight. Whilst our counselling service is low cost and has reduced rates for people on benefits, or low incomes, we still have a number of clients who would greatly benefit from counselling, but are unable to afford it.

We are therefore launching this appeal to raise £2,000 which would help us provide 10 counselling assessments and 80 counselling sessions to people across Hertfordshire aged 16+. Our short term counselling sessions are delivered by experienced and placement counsellors who use a client-centred based approach.

We have a number of ways you can support this appeal:

1) Donate. You can donate through this JustGiving page. Just £20 would pay for one counselling session, £200 would pay for one person to receive a counselling assessment and 8 counselling sessions.

2) Fundraise. If you would like to fundraise for this appeal then you can set up your own JustGiving page - just click on 'Start Fundraising' on the right hand side of this page. If you would like help with fundraising ideas, want to get a HMN t-shirt or would like us to promote your fundraising event then please drop us an e-mail at fundraising@hertfordshiremind.org

3) Text HMNCOUNSELLING to 70460 to donate £5. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message and you'll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you'd like to give £5 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text HMNCOUNSELLINGNOINFO to 70460.

Thank you so much for your support!