Business Details
16 Years
experience
Free Specialist Counselling Services
Beacon Counselling Trust (BCT) is a North West-based education, treatment, and support charity established in 2010. Our organisation employs fully qualified therapists with extensive experience in mild to moderate mental health support, delivering specialist services across two core programmes. The first addresses gambling-related harms across the North West of England, offering free counselling and structured recovery pathways. The second, Paul's Place, provides the UK's largest suicide bereavement support programme in Merseyside, combining one-to-one therapy with peer support groups. All services operate under strict confidentiality guidelines aligned with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy (BACP) Code of Ethics, with therapists holding enhanced DBS certifications. Our strategic vision focuses on expanding access to support while maintaining financial sustainability through diverse funding sources, including National Lottery grants. We prioritise immediate access to care, with no waiting lists for assessments or therapy sessions, and deliver interventions through face-to-face, telephone, and online platforms.
Services
Gambling-Related Harms Counselling
Suicide Bereavement Support
Peer Support Groups
Online Therapy Sessions
Gambling Awareness Training
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- Free counselling with no waiting lists for gambling harms and suicide bereavement
- Fully qualified therapists with enhanced DBS certifications and specialist training
- Multi-modal interventions including CBT, trauma-informed therapy, and peer support
- Immediate access to assessments within 2-5 working days
- Award-winning suicide bereavement programme with National Lottery funding
Associations and certifications
- The Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH)
What people say
Fantastic counselling service
Real personal touch
Highly recommended
Life-changing support
Professional and friendly
Services
Gambling-Related Harms Counselling
Our specialist programme offers free, confidential counselling for individuals affected by gambling-related harms. Therapists deliver evidence-based interventions including CBT and trauma-informed approaches through face-to-face, telephone, or online sessions. The service supports both gamblers and affected others, with structured recovery pathways incorporating peer support groups and nature-based therapeutic activities. No waiting lists ensure timely access to care.
Suicide Bereavement Support
The UK's largest suicide bereavement programme provides free one-to-one counselling and peer support groups. Our trauma-specialist therapists work with adults aged 16+ across Merseyside, offering immediate support regardless of bereavement timing. The service includes weekly drop-in sessions, monthly evening meetings, and Trek Therapy wellbeing walks, all delivered through National Lottery-funded initiatives.
Peer Support Groups
Weekly peer support groups create safe spaces for shared experiences and mutual support. Participants access both structured therapeutic environments and informal social connections, with options including Tuesday morning drop-ins and monthly evening sessions. These groups complement individual therapy, fostering community connections through shared lived experiences of gambling harms or suicide bereavement.
Online Therapy Sessions
Flexible remote therapy options use telephone and Microsoft Teams platforms to increase accessibility. This service removes geographical barriers while maintaining confidentiality standards, enabling participation from home environments. Remote sessions follow the same structured therapeutic frameworks as in-person appointments, with equivalent assessment and review processes.
Gambling Awareness Training
The Bet You Can Help (BYCH) training programme educates professionals and communities about gambling-related harms. Accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health, this public health approach qualification equips participants to identify risks, provide initial support, and make appropriate referrals. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical signposting strategies for affected individuals.
People
Darren Melia
Chair of Trustees
Leading BCT's strategic vision, Darren oversees organisational development and service expansion. With extensive experience in charity governance, he drives initiatives to improve mental health support accessibility while maintaining financial sustainability through diverse funding streams.
Questions
Can family members access support for gambling-related issues?
Yes, our free service supports affected partners, family members, and friends through self-referral. Contact us directly for assessment and counselling arrangements.
How many therapy sessions are available for gambling support?
Initial referrals receive up to 8 free sessions, with potential for extension based on individual progress reviews with your therapist.
Is there a waiting list for suicide bereavement counselling?
No waiting lists exist. Assessments occur within 7 days, with counselling sessions starting within 7 days of assessment.
Are all services completely free of charge?
All core services including counselling, peer groups, and awareness training are provided free to eligible individuals across our target regions.
What therapy modalities are used in treatment?
We employ diverse evidence-based approaches including CBT, EFT, transactional analysis, and trauma-informed interventions tailored to individual needs.
How is service quality maintained?
Therapists adhere to BACP ethical standards with enhanced DBS checks, while programmes undergo annual impact reporting and external evaluations.
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Reviews (2)
Linda T.
Jan 10, 2020
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They have helped my sister and brother in law. After the loss of there beautiful son
always somebody listening to them.
always somebody listening to them.
Jo Rosa Mcloftus
Mar 08, 2019
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Pauls Place is an an amazing resource, I'm not sure how I would have survived the last year without it caring, compassionate and warm embrace, that helps us talk, laugh and cry about our loved ones. I am so lucky to live in a city with such fabulous people who managed to set up this organisation on a shoe string, please like it on google, facebook twitter, or whatever social platform in order to help it gain the funding and support it needs to carry on. Special thanks to Joe, Agnes and Kathy who have been so instrumental in setting it up.