Blackpool Council announced on 9 March 2026 that it has awarded a £40,000 grant to the charity Counselling In The Community to fix its building on Waterloo Road in South Shore, Lancashire. The money will be used for urgent repairs to the hub, which had been damaged by severe weather. This funding ensures the building is safe and can stay open for residents who need mental health support.
The grant from Blackpool Council is part of an effort to improve local community spaces and protect essential services with the Pride in Place initiative. These repairs will help the building meet safety standards so that staff and volunteers can continue their work without interruption. By securing the site, the council aims to keep vital support services within easy reach of the people who use them.
Counselling In The Community provides low-cost mental health support for adults, young people, and children living in Blackpool, Wyre, and Fylde. The charity was started in 2017 by Stuart Hutton-Brown to offer affordable therapy for residents who might otherwise struggle to pay for private healthcare. It often operates on a donation basis to make sure no one is turned away due to their financial situation.
The repairs to the South Shore hub will allow the organisation to maintain its full range of therapy and counselling sessions. Local leaders say that keeping this site open is important for the wellbeing of the community, as it provides a stable and safe place for people to get help. The funding will cover the immediate costs of the structural work needed to fix the storm damage.
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