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 Life Changes Counselling

"Making counselling available to people who might not otherwise have access to it"

Fundraising

Here you can keep up to date with what Life Changes Counselling supporters have been doing to raise much needed funds for the exceptional organisation and we provide you with possible ways you can help.

Challenging Times

The last 18 months have been difficult for all of us. Life Changes have had to move to provide a totally on line service. We lost our premises and pretty much every aspect of our organisation had to change to match the circumstances of the pandemic.

Looking Forward

A major challenge is to find (and pay for) new premises as we move to a new blended approach of on line and face to face services. We would also like to retain our more experienced counsellors by being able to pay them for their work. This, and the running of the organisation will cost more money.

How can you help?

Below are some great stories of those who have fundraised, and some who are are about to. The simple thing to do is support them in their efforts, but more exciting would be for you to organise a fund raising event of your own. Take a look at possible activities to do this. 

Amazing achievement...

The Great South Run


The October 2022 Great South Run was the furthest I have ever run, and I was nervous as to whether I’d be able to complete the run at all. In the 6 weeks running up to the event I had been suffering with a lingering cold which did not help my preparation. However, I felt good on the day and was able to run the 10 miles in 1 hour 40 minutes. I was over the moon with the result, although that later felt slightly reduced on learning an 80-year-old managed the task in 1 hour 30…putting me to shame!

 

Although I could hardly walk the next day, I was delighted to raise £1,120 for Life Changes Counselling - making the endeavour completely worthwhile. Our organisation is completely dependent on client donations, therefore any additional funding really helps.

 

I will be doing the run again next year for Life Changes (this time with the intension of a better finishing time than my 81-year-old fellow runner!)

 

Ed Kennedy, Trustee

Edinburgh Marathon

May 2022 - Update


Our congratulations to Emily Clark who has completed the Edinburgh marathon.


As those of you who have been following her training - things haven’t always been going to plan, with recurrent shin splints being particularly troublesome. Luckily, she started training early so was able to complete a decent preparatory schedule despite time out for recovery from time to time.

 

The weather on the day was perfect; sunny but cool. The marathon course leaves Edinburgh and heads for the coast and by mile 18 she was running well and enjoying the scenery. Soon after this the dreaded shin splints made an unwelcome appearance and the last 10 miles turned into a bit of a nightmare - finally hobbling back into the city and over the line in 5 and a half hours. The time, effort, pain and sheer grit that Emily put into this event is awe inspiring, as is the fact that she has raised more than £1000 for Life Changes.

 

We will have to see how her injuries impact her plans to complete the London marathon for us as well - but meanwhile let’s take inspiration from her and set up other fundraising events. Life Changes has a robust financial model, but this sort of initiative makes the difference between just scraping by , and being able to confidently go the extra mile for our clients. Emily’s efforts will pay for six 1 hour sessions for 12 hard up clients.

 

Well done Emily and thank you.

Read Emily's story 

A moment of madness...

I’m a full time creative Artworker, Mum to Ellie & Harriet and wife to Gary a retired police officer. We live in a village just outside of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. I’m also daughter to my Mum, Janet and my late father, John who is the main reason I got into this crazy world of marathons!!!

 

Back in 2014, my amazing, lovely Dad passed away from Mesiotheloma. During this horrendous time, we had support from our local hospice. They were fantastic, so I wanted to do something to say a big thank you. I raised money abseiling down a water tower with my then aged 16 year old daughter but wanted to do something else and after going to support my sister-in-law the 2017 London Marathon I thought, ‘if she can do it - so can I!’ 


I managed to get a ballot place through the hospice and thought, ‘Yikes, what have I let myself in for !’ I followed a plan, joined a ladies running group and started my training. I didn’t even think about what weather I would be training in….rain, wind, ice, snow…not pleasant, but when you have a goal you just get on with it. Hate it at the time…love it after!


I unfortunately had rather a lot of niggles and pain in my hip and I had to pull out and defer my entry. In 2019,  I got through the training with a lot of aches, pains, tears and many visits to the physio. Someone said to me, ‘the challenge is not the race, it is the training’ and my goodness he was right!

I completed it (with much help from my supporters and a physio at mile 17) in 5hr 25mins. I didn’t want to put pressure on myself by wanting to complete it within a certain time, I just concentrated on getting over that finish line, receiving my medal and being be able to give the hospice some sponsorship money. I raised £3,552.


So how come I am doing it again? A moment of madness, I’d say! While recovering and being on cloud 9 after London, I re-entered through the London ballot for April 2020, then with a couple of friends decided to enter for Edinburgh, May 2020 as well.

 

Due to Covid, I decided I really didn’t want to run them virtually, so I deferred them to this year. I’m pleased to say my training has begun! I am now up to 6 miles! I already have some niggles, but I’m looking after my legs and just doing it slowly. I’ve joined a new running group in my local town, which gives me the support and confidence that I can do this. My training consists of a couple of midweek short runs with the running group, this gives me company, a bit of chat and some giggles, but also keeps me at a steady pace…which is great as I do speed up when running on my own!! A couple of solo runs before work in London and then a quick faster run around my village. Then the dreaded long run at weekends which increases by a mile each week.


So why Life Changes? I really wanted to

have a chance to raise money for a smaller local charity. After visiting my Auntie & Uncle for lunch one day, Philip mentioned Life Changes and was explaining what fantastic support they are to Southampton. Even though I am not exactly local I have the connections with Philip being Chair and my daughter attends Southampton University. On a personal note, after hearing Philip speaking passionately about the charity, it’s a ‘thank you’ to him and my Auntie for being so caring and supportive towards my Dad in the last few days of his life.


Who knows if I will be successful and get 2 lots of sponsorship for LCC, or if it will only be 1 (and if I will be able to walk!) ……but I’m gonna give it a blooming good try!

 


And please stop me entering any more marathons!


(Posted: February 2022)


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Liz, Imelda & Joanne


Watch this space for updates on a preparation for next year.  You can also still make a donation for our efforts. The South coast’s biggest running event took place on the 16th October in Portsmouth over a fast and flat 10 mile route, a 5k run and a Junior Mini Great South Run on Saturday.


Liz tell us about there experience on the day...


The three of us signed up to run (walk) the Great South Run on Saturday 16th Oct 2021 (5K). Joanne is an LCC clinical supervisor, Imelda and myself  are LCC coordinators.

In not the best of conditions we finished the 5k in 1 hour 6 minutes and 48 seconds. We didn’t run we walked but we walked together. Jo and Imelda supported me (Liz) and walked at my pace, and we did it!


Though the three of us came in last  we finished which was the target. This allowed us to raise £505.00 to support the great work of Life Changes Counselling does


Next year we will be back Jo says "we need to do the 10 mile Run."  Imelda and myself  said "yes!" She won’t let us back out.

Watch this space for updates on a preparation for next year.  You can also still make a donation for our efforts.

Thank you...


(Posted:  January 2022)

Shop @ Smile.Amazon.co.uk


If you shop at Amazon then you can donate to Life Changes Counselling when you buy online.  Just follow the steps below:


  • Go to Smile.Amazon.co.uk
  • Go to the yellow button "Get started"
  • Go to Sign In using your existing Amazon account
  • you will then be sent a verification code to your phone
  • Confirm by pressing the approve button
  • Returning to your computer on continuing on your phone  use the Search facility type in Life Changes Counselling.
  • Select Life Changes Counselling Bursledon
  • Confirm and start shopping

How to Support Life Changes


Do you or a family member work for a corporate company.  Many have a charitable trust and they

donate a percentage of their money pot to charities. 



Some ideas...


  • Cook a meal for friends and ask them to pay, substituting their Friday night takeaways  for your lovely food. You could always throw in a raffle. 


  • Cake auction or sale 


  • Quiz nights online or face to face  


  • If you are back at work Krispy Kreme donuts  do fundraising donuts:



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