Mayor of Derry and Strabane announces Aurora Counselling as his official charity

Aurora Counselling Services are based in Derry’s Racecourse Road and work to provide support for those with mental health issues.

Mayor Tierney said the charity was a very worthy cause that he was keen to support and promote during his mayoral year.

He said: “Tackling the mental health crisis in this city and district must remain a major focus of all we do. That work has become all the more crucial with the stress and strain of the last number of months have inflicted. Aurora Counselling Services are central in that work by offering a wide range of mental health services to children, teenagers and adults.

The Mayor said Aurora Counselling attend both primary and secondary schools and have an in house service offering play therapy and counselling.

Adults are also supported through a range of talking therapies and wellbeing services.

“They currently have around 15 staff members in their team who are regularly backed up by a team of volunteers and I believe they deserve our recognition and support and I’m delighted to nominate them as my chosen charity for the year ahead,” the Mayor added.

Welcoming the announcement, Francesca Kelly, Centre Manager with Aurora Counselling Services said the charity is honoured and delighted to have been selected by the Mayor.

She said the charity looks forward to working with him and his team over the next year to promote their services, work proactively to create better awareness of mental health issues as well as raise much needed funds for the organisation.

”The mental health and wellbeing of individuals living across Derry and Strabane remains a serious concern. Mental health is currently underfunded and under resourced to address the increasing range of needs presenting across the age spectrum.

“The impact of Coronavirus will further add to this. We are therefore delighted to be afforded the timely opportunity to work collaboratively with Mayor Tierney to shine a light on these needs and raise funds to help improve access to support for individuals when they need it. “

Mayor Tierney said he plans to host a range of events over the coming year and donate the proceedings to the charity.

Further details on all events will be announced throughout the year and the public can keep up to date by accessing the Mayor’s Charity page at www.derrystrabane.com/mayor/charity.For more information on Aurora Counselling Services visit http://www.auroracounselling.org or https://www.facebook.com/auroracounsellingderry