Family support and counselling
Community Links SW CIC is a not for profit organisation established in April 2011 to support families and young people through early intervention, education and enhanced family support. It provides support and counselling for residents of Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets at low or no cost, thanks to funding from Okehampton United Charities. Experienced, friendly practitioners and counsellors work alongside families and individuals in a very flexible way.
The support offered can look very different for each individual. It may be helping someone get back to work after illness, coping with bereavement or working on confidence and assertiveness skills. It can be helping parents, when they realise that their child has additional needs, working through a maze of emotions, or accessing specialist services.
A spokesperson for Community Links said: ‘Often, we find that different families experience very similar parenting issues, so we offer group sessions where families explore specific challenges together. Realising that you are not the only one having difficulties can be very reassuring.’
Community Links also runs two groups which meet regularly in Okehampton - the Autism/ADHD Parent Support Group and the Okehampton Mental Health Support Group. Both groups provide a safe place to connect with others, helping to reduce any feelings of isolation.
Ciara White from Tor Support Services said: ‘They have embraced and swiftly put into action many fantastic opportunities for growth, development, nurturing and support for the local community and have built up considerable experience in delivering family support services.’
Chris Parsons from the Okehampton Children’s Centre added: ‘Okehampton would be a far needier community without them; they are an amazing resource.’
Community Links understands that people face a variety of challenges, for all sorts of reasons, but they do not have to face them alone. To access support, please contact info@communitylinks-sw.co.uk or call us on 07808 523111.