Cogwheel Counselling, a Cambridge-based charity providing affordable counselling services, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
Cogwheel was founded in 1988 by Jenny Joice, a practising Christian with a turbulent personal history. This inspired her to collaborate with others to open up a counselling centre that would be readily accessible to everyone.
Today, Cogwheel continues to provide affordable counselling to those who most need it and the founder’s ethos, which includes compassion, respect, listening and healing, still prevails, serving as a core driver for the team within the charity. The organisation seeks to deliver a professional and effective therapeutic service open to individuals of all ages, focussing on affordability. Delivery of the service has evolved over the years, not least with the need for a sudden shift to online provision during the Covid-19 lockdown. Cogwheel now delivers sessions in person, online and over the phone, enabling easier access for those unable to travel its primary locations.
Cogwheel continues to look for new ways to reach out and provide support where needed and has recently added an Employee Counselling Service to its offering. This service enables organisations to offer prompt access to short-term counselling for any employees who may be in emotional distress.
To mark the charity’s 35th anniversary, Cogwheel’s Chair of Trustees, Lis Silver, kindly welcomed the Cogwheel team to her home and garden for a small celebration with a barbecue, cake and bubbles.
Commenting on the anniversary, Cogwheel’s Head of Services, Isabelle Dolis, said, “Despite the many ups and downs our service has gone through over the years, the financial pressures, the recruitment puzzles, the funding challenges, we have continued to honour our mission to provide affordable support come what may. The grit and resilience of all Cogwheelers, past and present, the hard work, tenacity, creativity, humour and generosity – to name but a few qualities embodied in the team – all warm the heart and keep the cogs turning. Here’s looking forward to the next 35 years!”
