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Do you know what the role of an advocate is?

When it comes to our adult advocacy services, we work closely with medical professionals, nursing and care teams to help them understand the benefits. Our advocates place tremendous value on the relationships they have with local hospitals and care homes in the Wigan borough. After all, it’s their care and concern for patients that generates referrals into our advocacy team.

If you work in the medical or care profession and you’re not sure of the benefits of referring an adult to advocacy, then this post is for you.

A wonderful testimonial for our advocacy team

“The advocates have a very good understanding of their roles, including in best interest decisions. They have a quick response time, take a lot of time to get to know the person they support and are very skilled at raising and resolving issues. They are passionate about their work, have a great understanding of legal processes and will report poor practice when encountered.” – Social Worker, Wigan

Who can you refer to advocacy?

The majority of our adult advocacy clients are people with long-term health conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. We also represent clients with learning disabilities as well as those who have been placed in rehabilitation or detained under the Mental Health Act.

If you are unsure whether a patient qualifies for advocacy support, please give our team a call to check.

Advocacy gives people a voice

Everyone has the right to an independent voice. When individuals are deemed to lack the capacity to make decisions about safety, living arrangements or medical treatment and have no family or friends to do this on their behalf, our advocates step in.

The role of an advocate is to ensure that people’s views are heard and respected. In each case we listen and take a balanced view of events so we can make an informed decision that’s in the best interest of the individual.

Rapid response times

Due to the nature of the work, our independent advocates work flexibly and can step in to represent individuals at short notice. Sometimes we have to make quick decisions and report our findings in an equally efficient manner.

We talk to everyone involved

To make an informed ‘best interest’ decision, we make sure to talk to every party involved in the case. This might include nurses, carers, clinicians and other healthcare professionals, as well as the client. It’s our job to understand every detail of each case and try to explain things in a way that everyone can understand.

We understand legal processes and proceedings

Our advocacy team are trained independent advocates (IAQ) and follow case law closely for to keep up to date with recent outcomes and best practice.

In cases referred to the Court of Protection, such as when individuals need living arrangements decided, an advocate can be called in to represent the person during legal proceedings. This is also known as a litigation friend. The advocate may appoint legal representation and attend court to uphold the rights of the individual and challenge decisions that they do not feel are in their best interests.

Medical treatment decisions

Medical decisions should be made by informed choice, not be something that’s done to an individual. Medical and care professionals can refer to an independent advocate when a person is deemed to lack the capacity to make their own decisions about medical treatment.

The advocate seeks to understand the views, wishes and feelings of the patient, which is especially important in cases of palliative care and resuscitation. They discuss options with the medical and care-giving teams, taking into account the impact and benefits of treatment, and potential impact on quality of life and life expectancy.

The client is at the heart of the process

In every single advocacy case, our team’s number one priority is the individual we’re representing. It’s their wishes and interests that we have in our hearts and minds when we make a decision.

Our advocacy work is crucial in representing and empowering the adults of Wigan. Without an advocate they may not have a voice. We will continue to work in collaboration with our hospitals, surgeries, care homes and local authorities to educate and guide colleagues in making advocacy referrals. If we can support you or your team in this way, please get in touch.

“Counselling for young people and adults can be a life-changing experience”

This is how the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) describes the benefits of counselling on their website.

Counselling for young people and adults helps people to manage difficult life problems. If you’ve had a traumatic experience, are coping with grief, depression or anxiety, or struggling to manage self-destructive behaviours and emotions, counselling could be the support you need.

The important thing to know is you don’t have to face these feelings and emotions alone. Wigan Family Welfare’s experienced counselling team is here to support. Talk to us, share your challenges and we’ll help you find ways to cope.

Counselling for young people and adults isn’t just about exploring solutions to problems. It can also help you to develop as a person. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits in more detail.

6 life-changing benefits of counselling

Discover new perspectives
A counselling session is a safe space to talk with an independent therapist. Sometimes just saying a thought out loud brings a huge sense of relief. You might start to look at challenges differently through open discussions and exploring new ideas.

Build communication skills
People who experience counselling become more able to express their feelings and emotions, which can also improve personal and work relationships. Talking to a trained professional who wants to listen and genuinely cares will develop your communication skills and build confidence in other areas of your life.

Become a more resilient person
Counselling therapy can be stressful, particularly if you’re discussing a painful time or event in your life. With each session, you’ll make progress and become stronger. You might find it becomes easier to express your thoughts and feelings.

Build your self-esteem
Lack of self-worth is a common trait in people who seek counselling support. Sharing your fears and exploring solutions could give you a real confidence boost. The simple act of talking builds self-esteem and you find new ways of coping in the future.

Make change happen
With counselling, you’re in control of your own destiny. Your counsellor will never tell you what to do or steer you down a certain path. They’ll listen and encourage you to investigate ideas and always make your own choices. The pace of progress is up to you. Even the smallest of changes is a positive step.

Improved quality of life
Stress, worry and anxiety can lead to insomnia or irregular sleep patterns. Getting issues off your chest through counselling can have a direct impact on the amount and quality of sleep you get. You may also feel more motivated and energised in life.

Counselling for young people in Wigan

“The counsellors are excellent at forming relationships with our younger children, making them feel comfortable and helping them to overcome fears, anxieties or bereavements, for example. The children really look forward to the sessions and gain a lot of confidence from them.”

According to the Mental Health Foundation, 10% of UK children and young people (aged 5-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem.

Referral to a counselling service is often not the child’s choice, so the first conversation can be difficult. Once young people feel safe and understood, the benefits of counselling kick in.

Our dedicated young persons counselling team is specially trained to help young people open up and give them tools and strategies that will benefit them into adult life. Of course, we keep parents informed at every stage of the counselling process too.

Talk to us about young persons counselling.

Counselling for adults and families in Wigan

“Talking to the counsellor made me realise I can’t change other people, but I can change how I react to them”

A 2016 study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found that approximately 68% of women and 57% of men with mental health problems are parents.

Starting and raising a family can be a stressful time. Sessions with a trained counsellor can help you feel more able to cope. Our perinatal counselling service is for pregnant mums and their partners or have children up to the age of one.

Our specialist adult counselling services include anger management and bereavement support. Whatever your challenges may be, with our counsellors’ support you can come to terms with whatever is going on in your life and find new ways to cope.

Talk to us about adult or perinatal counselling.

Face-to-face child counselling support is the best and most effective form of therapy. Meeting a client in person allows the counsellor to monitor the client’s body language, facial expressions, physical reactions, and gain deeper insight into unspoken thoughts and feelings. The counsellor can get closer to, and more connected with, the person they are there to support. It’s an holistic counselling approach that facilitates communication on a higher, personal level.

Our school counselling team has been surprised at how well telephone counselling sessions have worked during lockdown. Connecting by phone has expanded our service and enabled us to reach many more individuals that need our help, especially young people. With no travelling between appointments, we’ve supported more people than ever before, and reduced waiting lists as a result.

Whilst telephone counselling can be effective, there is no substitute for traditional one-to-one counselling support. As we’ve already mentioned, there are many unspoken human reactions that cannot be noted from a phone call. This is why our counselling team is so delighted to be back working in Wigan Borough schools again.

Extra precautions minimise risk to young people

Our goal was always to get back into schools as soon as possible. It was clear from the outset that adapting to the new circumstances would not be an easy task. With Covid rules and regulations in place, we’ve had to work closely with our schools and colleges to do thorough risk assessments and ensure we meet all their safety requirements.

How school counselling sessions have changed

On entering the school, Family Welfare counsellors go straight to their allocated room and stay there throughout the day. All our counsellors are equipped with hand sanitiser, and anti bacterial spray for their toys and equipment. We’re operating a paperless policy to avoid surface contact, making notes digitally instead.

To minimise our movements in school, we no longer collect pupils from class. A staff member does this for us and brings them to our counselling room. We maintain social distancing throughout the appointment, and in all schools and colleges, counsellors wear a protective face visor.

Toys and resources used in all settings are sanitised between appointments.

We hope the additional steps we’re taking put parents, teachers and children’s minds at ease and provide reassurance that your child is in safe hands with us.

Team challenges and response

The new restrictions mean our counsellors are having to be more imaginative. It’s a creative challenge they’re all enjoying! With books and play doh no longer permitted, our storytelling skills are coming into their own. We’re keen to keep the sessions as interactive and engaging as possible. Our counsellors are sharing ideas, resources and strategies that work within Covid regulations and deliver results for vulnerable young people.

The team are all key workers and they’ve responded to the situation with complete selflessness. They’ve shown professionalism and an eagerness to return to schools, despite the obvious personal risks they are taking. We’re so proud of their versatility, flexibility and desire to put other people first.

Early positive signs

It’s only been a few weeks since returning to the school/college environment, yet the early signs are very promising. It’s wonderful to meet some of the young people we’ve worked with during lockdown and see how, with Wigan Welfare’s support, they are starting to live their life with a positive attitude and a smile on their face. Our aim is to build on this progress by continuing with face-to-face sessions.

September is always a busy time for new referrals and this year is no different. What has changed is we have a mix of in-person, telephone and video counselling available, meaning some individuals have a choice of how to speak to us. Accessibility of counselling services is so important when people are seeking help.

After months of working remotely, it feels good for our team to be back together (at a safe distance!) and to rekindle the camaraderie and team spirit that’s served us so well. With a move to new premises on the horizon, the next few months look bright.

For more information about you or your child counselling support services, please contact us via our enquiry page.

Although the building has served us well, changing circumstances have led us to look for a new home for our family support charity. With the majority of referrals coming from the other side of the borough to where we’re based, our impending move is an opportunity to get closer to the communities that need our support.

Consulting our community

Once we knew relocation was on the cards, our first step was to ask the young people that rely on us what they want from local mental health services. Earlier this year we consulted just shy of 2,100 young people. They told us they wanted a safe place to meet and socialise with friends, a space where they feel comfortable talking to counsellors and can freely access family planning services and parental support.
With our research complete, we began our search for a new home.

Strengthening ties with Wigan & Leigh College

When details of space at Wigan and Leigh College Adult learning building landed in our inbox, we had a good feeling it would become our new home. Wigan & Leigh College is one of our biggest thus enabling us to strengthen our relationships with their teaching staff and students. It’s also closer to many of our service users making counselling and advocacy services even more accessible to the communities we serve.

From October 2020, we’ll take over the first floor of the building, which has a large community room, café and meeting space, seven counselling rooms, offices, and is fully accessible. The space will allow us to deliver everything our users have told us they want. The fit-out is currently under way and to say we’re excited is an understatement!

Community benefits

As well as our regular programme of counselling, advocacy and young parents support, the Wigan borough will also benefit from:

• An on-site café open to everyone. It will be a safe place for young people to meet friends and professionals to hold informal meetings. Free Wi-Fi and phone charging points will be installed for convenience.
• Better access to CAMHS workers for young people, parents and teachers.
• Additional family planning and parental support services.
• A meeting and event space for up to 60 people, which will be freely available to local non-profit community groups and organisations (see below for details of how to access).

Benefits for our team

The entire Family Welfare team is incredibly excited to move into the new building next month. We’re looking forward to the modern facilities and accommodation and the improved working environment this will provide. Welcoming more professionals into the building allows us to expand our knowledge and learn from each other to better serve the community. Additional meeting rooms mean our counsellors and advocates can see more people, as well as undertake training and development on site.

We want to hear from community groups

If you represent a local community group and are interested in using our meeting and events space, we’d love to hear from you at admin@wiganfamilywelfare.co.uk.

We want to see our new home being used to provide fun play, arts and crafts activities for parents and children, support and therapy for the bereaved, vulnerable and socially isolated, mental health services, and to give a boost to volunteers with a passion for their field.

Stuart Parsons, Chief Officer, Wigan Welfare says,

“This move represents a new era for Family Welfare. Our current home has served us well for the last 10 years, but it’s now time for us to take this exciting and innovative step, which will bring so many important benefits to the communities we serve.

I’m delighted we’ll soon be in a position to deliver facilities and services the young people of Wigan & Leigh has asked us for.”

Further updates to follow

Keep an eye on our website and social feeds to keep up to date on all the latest building developments. We’ll notify all service users and stakeholders as soon as we know our moving date.

Wednesday 24th June 2020 should have been the day we welcomed up to 100 stakeholders to our 61st Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM is usually a joyous day where staff, association members and the public gather to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of the previous year.

When it is right and safe to do so, we look forward to welcoming our Wigan Welfare family to our new premises for our AGM celebrations. In the meantime, we’ve put together a summary of highlights from our 2019 Annual Report for our stakeholders to enjoy.

Overview

2019 saw improved accessibility to counselling and advocacy services, underpinned by strong partnership working and communication. We have strengthened our working relationships with schools, family support organisations, hospitals and care facilities. With support and funding from partner organisations we were able to expand our service offering and reach more people.

Counselling

New recruits (7 new counsellors and an experienced administrator) joined us to enhance our counselling skills base and enable us to reach more people with our services.

Schools counselling

We continue to provide counselling services in 46 schools across the borough. These are invaluable to young people struggling to cope in the modern world. 89% of clients said they felt an improvement to issues addressed as a result of their counselling.

The Red Box Scheme, a partnership between Leigh Soroptimists, Wigan Family Welfare and local schools, ensures that no girl has to miss school through period poverty. Boxes containing sanitary products, tights and underwear have been distributed to schools for girls to access.

CAMHS partnership

In January 2019, we formed a partnership with the North West Boroughs and Local Authorities Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to help support a reduction in their waiting lists. As the two services are the major providers in mental health provision to young people across Wigan Borough, it also makes more economic sense to provide an integrated service. Our services are accessible to more young people and waiting lists are shorter as a result. The confidential sessions, which take place in a variety of local community venues, helped 169 people to discuss and manage problems with mental health, self confidence, family, bullying, and anxiety.

Mentally Healthy Schools pilot

We took part in the Greater Manchester pilot of this funded programme to provide essential counselling services in two high schools. A successful pilot led to rollout in four further schools and colleges in the borough, and requests for additional sessions at Wigan & Leigh College. We delivered a total of 381 sessions.

Child Anger and Child Bereavement and Loss

We have supported young people to deal with difficult and challenging situations, such as losing a loved one, family breakdown, changing schools and anger management. One of our newly qualified counsellors worked to build relationships with new schools so that more 5-18 year-olds can access support in familiar venues where they feel at ease. This reduced anxiety amongst service users. We simplified the referral process and moved it online making referrals easier and services more accessible. As a result, referrals increased from April 2019 onwards.

Adult Anger Management

Throughout the year, our team had a full case load and a healthy waiting list for adult anger management counselling. During sessions, clients have space to talk about how their anger impacts their life, in an open and non-judgemental way. The service continued to have a positive impact on clients’ anger levels, boosting self-esteem, confidence and decision making capabilities.

Perinatal Counselling

Our home visits supported women during and after pregnancy as well as expectant and new parents experiencing challenges and anxiety. During 2019, we offered a total of 304 counselling sessions in a variety of settings from family homes to children’s centres. Entire families have been able to access emotional and practical support, and thanks to our strong partnerships, we have been able to reach larger sections of the community.

Advocacy

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

We continued to provide IMHA support to adults in Wigan detained under the Mental Health Act. Our advocates worked hard to strengthen relationships with service providers to ensure clients feel empowered to make the best possible decisions when there is no-one else to support or represent them. Social workers’ praise for IMHA services focused on our flexibility, professionalism and ability to put the needs of the client first.

We carried out additional training and education with healthcare and nursing colleagues around the role and importance of the IMHA role. We will continue to do this to ensure we have a strong presence in local hospitals and nursing staff recognise the need for our services.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) and Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR)

The IMCA service continues to provide a high quality service to the community. Referrals remain constant although our court of protection work continues to increase. RPR referrals increased by 14.5% compared to 2018. This resulted in a 25% rise in client visits and telephone contact, allowing more people access to independent representation. Our team worked hard to clear down RPR waiting lists, introducing Saturday working to ensure every client’s rights and best interests could be heard and upheld.

Proud of our achievements

The Wigan Family Welfare team is rightly proud of its achievements in 2019, having made significant progress in taking our expertise out into the community where it is needed most.

If you would like to receive the full version of our 2019 Annual Report, please email admin@wiganfamilywelfare.co.uk

Advocacy is giving someone a voice. It’s a much-needed lifeline for people who lack capacity to make their own decisions.

Wigan Family Welfare’s free, independent, and confidential advocacy services are called upon in cases where there are no family members around. We help individuals make important decisions about their health and wellbeing. Sometimes we step in when an individual is estranged from their family or they simply don’t want family to be involved.

What does an Advocate do?

The primary role of an Independent Advocate is to represent the needs and views of the individual. You have to be empathetic and a good listener and communicator on many levels. We are there to make best interest decisions with, or on behalf of, those we represent. Cases are varied; from people with dementia to patients sectioned for their own safety in specialist mental health wards.

Patients often require signposting to professional advice and services. Our role might involve researching treatments, discussing these with doctors, and explaining what they mean to the patient.

Above all, we’re here to make decisions that are in the best interest of the individual.

How we’re providing advocacy support during lockdown

Under normal circumstances, our team will spend most of their time visiting patients and residents in care homes and hospitals. Since lockdown, we’ve been unable to visit in person. We’re providing all our advocacy support over the phone, and with this comes a number of challenges.

Advocacy by telephone makes it more difficult to pick up on signals and reactions. We often look to facial expressions and body language as a sign of how the person is feeling. We also use images to help people express their thoughts and feelings. Our advocacy team is learning and adapting to their new working conditions. Listening skills are coming to the fore to ensure every individual we represent receives the care and attention they need.

Positive outcomes

A surprising positive to come out of lockdown is that isolation appears to be benefiting some individuals. For patients with dementia, a more sedate way of life means they feel less confused. It’s incredible how residents have adapted so quickly to the new normal.

Of course, it’s terribly difficult for families unable to visit their loved ones during this time. But we’ve enjoyed reading about the wonderful creative activities being developed by care homes in the Wigan Borough. Staff are sharing ideas to boost spirits and entertain residents in online carers forums.

Carers are using their phones to help residents make video calls to family. They’ve  held musical days, streamed concerts, played bingo and ensured nobody missed out on the VE day celebrations. We’ve even heard about a virtual tour of Hawaii using VR headsets!

Two strands of adult advocacy services

Our adult advocacy support is divided into two areas: mental health and mental capacity. Each area of work is governed by legislation and strict procedures must be followed. You can read more detail on the different advocacy services we provide by following the relevant links. Here’s a brief summary of each.

Independent Mental Health Advocacy

Working closely with staff on mental health wards, we represent the patient’s rights under the Mental Health Act. Our role is to understand what’s important to the patient and exercise that person’s rights, whether discussing safety concerns, exercising legal rights, or challenging medication choices. In some cases, we may also be asked to provide advocacy support to the patient’s family.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy 

If there’s no family member to take on the role, we support people who lack mental capacity and make the best interest decisions on their behalf. Sufferers of dementia, Huntington’s disease or stroke patients are common cases. We carry out risk assessments and make decisions about medication, treatment and end of life planning. We assess that person’s options and consult with medical professionals, making sure the patient’s voice and views are always heard and prioritised.

In cases where medical treatment results in that person being deprived of their liberty, our independent mental capacity advocates are there to protect their human rights. We also represent individuals in legal proceedings and make decisions about their care, treatment, and any restrictions placed on them.

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from free, independent advocacy support, please contact us on 01942 867 888.

To find resilience in uncertain times you must accept the situation you’re in and then adapt to it. Since March, our Counselling team has been providing the majority of support by telephone. By flexing our service quickly, our counsellors have been able to maintain their existing caseload and take on new referrals.

Our counselling services range from adult anger management to parental support, including post- and perinatal, and support for single parents. In many cases since lockdown, parents simply crave adult conversation. Wigan Welfare counsellors are here to listen. This is making a huge difference to every client, especially the young people we would normally visit as part of our schools programme.

How we’re connecting with young people

Discussing feelings and frustrations with a voice on the end of the phone can be a liberating experience. Many young people are more comfortable and open to sharing problems in this way than they would be in person. Giving them a space to talk has proved very successful and the positive feedback we’ve received from parents supports our new approach.

Of course, telephone counselling is not the only way we connect with clients. Some find email or texting easier than chatting on the phone. They’re able to say in writing what they find difficult to verbalise. We’re also making use of video call technology and we’d encourage everyone with this option to do the same. Seeing a friendly face can lift your spirits and change your outlook.

The success of our school counselling service is based on supporting the family as a whole unit. We keep in regular contact with the child’s parents and try to speak to every child once a week. By sharing self-help guides and cheat sheets with parents we encourage conversations about emotions and feelings with the child.

If you or your child would benefit from someone to talk to, you can access our free counselling services here.

What are young people concerned about right now?

May and June normally see thousands of young people sitting important exams. Instead, students are at home having experienced an abrupt ending to their school career. Young people are responding to missing exams with a mixture of anxiety and relief. Some are happy about predicted grades, others are devastated and concerned about the impact this may have on their future prospects.

Then there’s prom, with some youngsters distraught at having no clear ending or celebration of their efforts. No chance to say goodbye to friends. For others, there’s a sense of relief that they won’t have to bow to peer pressure and buy an outfit they don’t want or their parents can’t afford.

For many young people this enforced period away from school is a much-needed break – from exam pressure, learning difficulties, bullying, or a bad relationship with a teacher. It’s a time to take stock, relax and reset. In the future when we look back, this time could prove to be a blessing in disguise for school-age children suffering from mental health issues.

And, whilst it may feel like the most important thing in the world right now, there will be plenty of opportunities for your child to prove him or herself in the future. Try to steer the subject away from exams and encourage them to look ahead and think of the possibilities the future may bring.

Tips for coping with anxiety and stress

As we write this, it’s uncertain whether or not schools will return before the summer break. If children don’t return they will have missed out on half an academic year of schooling.

If your child is struggling to cope with anxiety and stress, here are seven useful tips from our counsellors. You might find them useful too!

1. Keep in touch with your friends. Texting is fun but there’s no substitute for face-to-face contact. Use the technology you’ve shown your parents how to use and connect by video call! You can even do your schoolwork together online.
2. Establish a routine. Divide your day between schoolwork, friends and family time, hobbies, exercise and relaxation. It doesn’t matter if you get up at 11am rather than 8am everyday. Just stick to a regular pattern.
3. Exercise when you can. It will help you to feel motivated and alert.
4. Get a good night’s sleep. If you struggle with this try some meditation. There are lots of videos online.
5. Don’t slack off – keep going. Do all your schoolwork to the best of your ability. it could count in your favour in terms of final grades and/or next school year.
6. Journaling. Keep three notebooks – one for emptying your head of random thoughts and feelings, another to use as a diary and a third to record all the things you’re grateful for and looking forward to in the future.
7. Breathing techniques are useful to calm yourself when you feel stressed. Box breathing is a simple technique. Breathe in for 4 counts, wait for 4 counts, breathe out for 4 counts, and wait for 4 counts. Then start again.

How to get in touch

If you need to reach out to us, you can access our free counselling and advocacy services online, by calling 01942 867 888 or via private message on Facebook or Twitter.

Now more than ever before, people need access to emotional support.

That’s why, as soon as the Coronavirus pandemic broke out, we got in touch with Wigan Borough Council to volunteer our counselling and advocacy services to those in need.

We’ve now entered into an agreement with the local authority to deliver additional support services across the Wigan borough during this difficult time. This includes making comfort calls to people who’ve registered as needing help, and those in self-isolation through illness, being high-risk or vulnerable.

Young or old, if you live on your own or don’t have anyone you can talk to at this time, we want you to know that Wigan Family Welfare is open, accessible and working as normal.

Committed to supporting our community

The Borough of Wigan is home to 316,000 people. It’s one of the biggest metropolitan boroughs outside of London. By law we are required to keep our statutory advocacy services available and we’re doing this by phone and using video conferencing software.

Now that the schools and colleges are closed, our school counselling and advocacy services obviously cannot continue as usual. During a normal working week our trained counsellors would visit up to 80 schools between them. Although we can’t see students in person we are still providing full counselling and support to young people over the telephone. In some cases we’ve also extended this offer to immediate and extended family too.

Care homes, hospitals and mental health wards continue to receive vital support via telephone and video conferencing.

Adapting to our new working conditions

Our team mobilised very quickly to adapt our services to the new situation we find ourselves in. Following consultation, we unanimously agreed to continue supporting our current users as well as taking new referrals via the Wigan Borough Council helpline. We are proud to offer free guidance, support and be a friendly and comforting voice at the end of the phone.

Our 28-strong team is now working virtually from home. Everyone is working full-time, even our cleaner is hard at work deep cleaning our two office locations.

All the technology is working and we’re determined to deliver a seamless service. Our office phones and personal extension numbers are working as usual, redirecting to our home offices.

We can’t thank our team enough for the flexibility, dedication and commitment they’ve shown. Without them we wouldn’t be able to continue supporting our community.

Of course, additional caseload leads to challenges for all of us. We recognise that our people might need some extra support during this uncertain time too. We’re making sure that everyone has more frequent contact with their manager and has the chance to share and talk in confidence just like our service users.

We’re open and here for you

Our team are key workers, here to provide free, independent emotional support to individuals and families in the Wigan area.

We’ve personally contacted all the organisations we work alongside to notify them of our key worker status. This list includes the emergency hubs, Service Development Footprints (SDFs) and every mental health ward in the borough.

If you need to talk to access our counselling or advocacy services, we’re accepting self-referrals as well as via our usual partner organisations.

It’s been wonderful to learn from parents that our phone calls to their children are making a difference.

“I just wanted to say how grateful I am for the continuing support for my child…I think it’s wonderful.”

How to access our services during the lockdown period

These are unusual times. Not everyone has someone they can talk to. So whether you’re feeling anxious about a parent working at the hospital, worried about someone who’s sick or struggling with being in self-isolation, you can talk to us. Now the schools are closed we know our young people’s counselling services are more important than ever.

All counselling and advocacy work is currently being carried out by telephone between 9am and 5pm on weekdays. If you need to self-refer for counselling or advocacy you can contact us directly on 01942 867 888 or complete the self-referral form on our website.

For all Coronavirus support please call 01942 489018 or complete the Self-Isolation Welfare Support form at www.wigan.co.uk/bekind. Once you register that you need help, if you live in the Wigan Borough your request will be redirected to us and we’ll get in touch.

As a community, we have faced, and recovered from, difficult situations in the past. In the borough we have a track record of pulling together to help each other. When our lives begin to return to normal (and they will), we want to be able to say that we were there for the people and families of Wigan.

Keep safe and well.