Time to Talk West Berkshire

Time to Talk West Berkshire is an independent charity originally established in 1986 that provides mental health support to over 500 young people through free counselling sessions primarily through face-to-face sessions at Broadway House, Thatcham and the GP surgeries at Woolton Hill, Hungerford and Lambourn. We also provide support in 6 schools across the district. We have a regular wait list of 30-40 people in need of our support. Our channels of contact due to the current COVID situation has seen us provide an online and telephone service to meet the needs of those that need our help despite restrictions. We are currently the only youth counselling service in West Berkshire that is free at point of access and provides early intervention for vulnerable young people age 11-25. At present we have a staff of 55 - a combination of part-time paid and volunteers - from counsellors to operations. When it comes to mental health it can be really hard to ask for help, especially so for young people and their parents alike overcoming some of the barriers involved with coming forward to ask for help. We are understanding, welcoming and knowledgable.