Carluke Christian Counselling Service

On Monday 9th May 2005, along with Moira Braynion, Mary Carr, Ray Greene, Lorna Hastie and Dr Ann Jackson, I attended a Presentation in the Large Hall given by members of the Steering Group of the Carluke Christian Counselling Service.

The original idea of Carluke Christian Counselling Service came from discussions within the Ministers Fraternal who felt that a need existed for a service staffed by Christian people offering counselling to any and all who request it. It would be counselling provided by Christians from all the main denominations in Carluke available for the whole Community. It would be based in a 'Drop in' centre and as well as Counselling, would also provide Pastoral Care. It was established it would not impact on the Thursday Morning 'Drop-in' at St. John's.

A Steering Group was set up in June 2004 to consider the formation of such a service in Carluke. It comprised representatives of each of the three Church of Scotland Congregations, Baptist Church, Calvary Church and St Athenaseus. The minister, Mike Frew and Vivian Johnstone represented St John's. Although not formally part of the Steering Group the United Reform Church (EU) have expressed interest in the development of a Christian Counselling Service.

A small number from each Congregation had been invited to attend the Presentation, discuss the Group's findings and report back to their Kirk Session, or equivalent Court, with recommendations. The Steering Group confirmed from their own experiences and anecdotal evidence that a need for a Christian Counselling Service existed. They also prepared a list of approximately 20 volunteers who were interested in helping in the Project.

Several of the Steering Group had experience in Counselling work elsewhere and were able to identify the size and requirements of suitable premises and so prepare indicative, budget costings; a proportion of which would be paid by each participating Congregation. A Projected Annual Expenditure of about £17,000 was identified, which included the part time salary of a qualified Counsellor and Co-ordinator. Additional to this was a 'start-up' cost of £5000. Thus the total estimated expenditure for the 1st Year would be in the order of £22,000.

The Projected Income for the 1st Year was estimated to be a little over £22,600 of which £18,500 would be grant money from the Church of Scotland, Local Authority and other Charitable Trusts. One of the Steering Group members is also Fund Raiser for a Christian Counselling Service in Falkirk and knowledgeable in sources of funding. In the first year it is estimated that the total costs to be divided between the participating Congregations would be about £4,000. Thereafter, and without the assistance of Grant funding, the full annual operational costs to be apportioned would be £17,000. Optimism was expressed, however, that an element of funding may be available on an annual basis.

The Steering Group also reported on Staffing requirements and in addition to volunteers, a trained and qualified Counsellor to act as both Counsellor and Co-ordinator is necessary. Formal qualifications are now required of everyone wishing to act as a Counsellor. It was made clear, however, that it is entirely feasible to operate successfully with a part-time, qualified Counsellor assisted by a group of Pastoral Care volunteers. As the Counselling Service develops, volunteers can undergo training and obtain recognised qualifications.

Examples were given to show that this was the format other, successful, Christian Counselling Services had adopted in their initial stages.

Discussion amongst each individual Congregation represented took place at which the invited Group from St John's considered the Steering Group had undertaken a comprehensive assessment of a Christian Counselling service in Carluke and that the Project should proceed to the next stage: the formation of a Management Group.

The position we are at now is that each Congregation is being asked to receive the views of the invited Group and either: -

• Decide to proceed no further with the Project
• Accept there is sufficient interest and merit in the creation of a Christian Counselling Service in Carluke and agree to the formation of a Management Group to further develop the Project.