A new community counselling venture has been set up by the University of Bristol to provide confidential help to people within the local area. The service will provide high quality, professional counselling to individuals who are unable to pay the market rate for counselling.

The 'LISTEN-IN' Community Counselling Service aims to fill the gap that presently exists for people who do not qualify for free counselling or for those who are unable to receive longer term counselling through the NHS or other support services.

Counselling provides an individual with an opportunity to explore any difficulties they may have in their lives in a confidential and safe setting.

Counselling will be provided by selected mature students from the University of Bristol's post-graduate Counselling Diploma Course, who have substantial training and who receive regular supervision and support according to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy guidelines.

If you wish to contact the service please ring Rebecca Midwinter, Tel (0117) 9042139 or e-mail: e-mail: rm9104@bristol.ac.uk

Clients presently using the service have come via various routes; typically GP referrals, referrals from local counselling agencies and self-referrals from people living within the local communities.