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An organisation in Chorley, run by volunteers dedicated to supporting women of all ages, is aiming to raise over £25,000 to make their building more accessible.
Chorley Women’s Centre, an independent organisation which covers Chorley and South Ribble, has been helping women with their mental health and wellbeing for 40 years.
They provide a safe haven with mental health support, trauma-informed therapy, workshops and groups.
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Rebecca Slater, chair of Chorley Women’s Centre said: “Our counselling here is outstanding. We get women referred to us from GPs, health professionals, or those who come to use via our website and for many it is life changing.
“Since Covid our waiting list has tripled.
“The centre’s fully trained staff deal with everything from domestic abuse, family abuse, sexual violence and mental health issues.
“The cost of living crisis is also a major factor and housing is also a stressful issue for many people.”
Hitting the target on their fundraiser would mean they would be able to offer their vital services to more people by making their building more accessible.
They have called their building on Clifford Street home for all these years, but now it is unable to meet the needs of their community.
Rebecca added: “We offer a drop-in service where you can get signposting and advice, a cup of tea and a listening ear.
“We pack so much into our tiny little building but we aren’t accessible and that’s what this project is all about.”
With the money, the volunteers aim to make the centre accessible while retaining its homely feel.
At the moment they are having to ask women to use the toilet in the restaurant across the road, which they are desperate to change.
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If they raise enough funds they will add an accessible entrance, accessible bathroom, accessible therapy room and access to the garden space. They will also create an additional upstairs therapy room to increase capacity.
So far the project has 67 backers, raising 64 per cent of their target on SpaceHive and it has been given a £10,000 boost from Lancashire County Council’s Sport and Culture Fund.
The centre is at Clifford Street, Chorley, and is open Tuesdays and Fridays 10am til 3pm.
You can find out more about Chorley Women’s Centre and donate to their project here.
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