THE brainchild behind a Wellington-based counselling service has said that more and more parents are getting in touch with concerns about their children.

Managing director of Wellington Community Counselling, Rhonda Lovell, said the organisation had received 268 referrals for support in 2023-24.

It was agreed by Wellington Town Council in February 2023 to enter into a new three-year Service Level Agreement with the charity with increasing levels of funding from £17,400 in 2023-24, £19,140 in 2024-25 and £20,880 in 2025-26.

And Rhonda was quick to thank councillors for their continued support at the town council’s annual parish meeting held on May 29.

“I set Wellington Community Counselling up six years ago and it is astonishing that we have got to six years with all things considered,” said Rhonda.

“But that is thanks to the town council for its funding support and the support of councillors. Our reputation has built-up over the years and word of mouth has certainly helped.”

Rhonda said that the council’s funding over the past year had helped to pay for 51 referrals which amounted to 346 counselling sessions, nearly half of whom had self-referred.

Councillors heard that the charity had received grant support from other avenues, while clients also contributed to the costs.

But she said that 37.25 per cent of referrals involved people aged under-21 and that they were seeing more and more children.

“An astonishing number of parents are getting in touch with us worried about their children in a lot of different areas,” added Rhonda.

Councillors heard the main reasons for referrals were anxiety, family problems, depression, school anxiety, bereavement and neurodiversity.

“It’s a bit like a bowl of spaghetti – a lot of the reasons for referrals are all mixed in together,” said Rhonda.

“A lot of children in Somerset are refusing to go to school because of the anxieties caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.”

But she added: “Counselling does make a different to people’s lives.”

Other groups to speak at the annual parish meeting included representatives of Wellington Twinning Association, Transition Town, St John’s Church and Reminiscence Learning.