To our friends and supporters

At their recent meeting, the Harbour board decided to publish a letter of information to our valued friends and supporters, to update you on how we stand in these difficult circumstances and outline how we are planning for the future.

We must thank every single one of our supporters for their steadfast support and encouragement. Without your on-going support our services for the community would be greatly diminished.

It seems such a long time since the announcement of ‘lockdown’ and the consequent suspension of face-to-face contact with clients. However under our Practice Manager’s guiding hand it is most encouraging that we have been able to meet the needs of clients by telephone or video conferencing. It is pleasing to state that by offering services in this way, Harbour is functioning at around two-thirds of normal capacity.

Having reached mid-September it seems as though we cannot yet be certain of how the months ahead will turn out in terms of returning to face-to-face counselling. However, let me assure you that the board of Harbour Counselling Service has every intention of surviving and thriving come what may. In recent months strenuous efforts have continued to seek funding to continue our work, both from individual donors and grant giving bodies. Our minds are turning now to a resumption of face-to-face counselling if possible by October, subject to government guidance. A measured plan for this is in course of preparation based on a risk assessment of our operational capabilities.

In spring 2019 the board decided that a strategic plan ought to be drawn up to give direction to the next few years. After thoughtful consideration this has been approved. Our plan includes innovative ideas on service delivery and a modest but realistic expansion of counselling hours to the community.

The board hopes and prays that you stay safe in the days ahead and that you will continue to think of Harbour as we respond to challenging circumstances. Harbour is determined to build upon its successful delivery of free counselling to the community and is confident in its plans for the future.

Alan McCully [Chair]

12 September 2020