Counselling Service Receives £5,000 Grant to Support Local Residents 

29th January 2026

Affordable Counselling Epping Forest (ACEF) has received a £5,000 funding boost to expand its vital low-cost counselling support for residents. The grant, awarded by the Frank Lichfield Charitable Trust and managed by ECF, will help ensure accessible mental health support remains available at a time of growing demand. 

Over the past year, ACEF delivered almost 700 counselling sessions across the Epping Forest District. The service offers a safe, confidential space for individuals to explore challenges and receive professional support at low costs. Of the clients supported, 86% reported a decrease in anxiety and 93% reported a decrease in depression. 

Demand for ACEF’s support continues to rise, driven by the long-term impact of Covid-19 and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. As statutory mental health services face increasing pressure, ACEF provides a crucial safety net for residents who might otherwise struggle to access help. 

ACEF currently delivers 21 hours of counselling each week, led by accredited or equivalently experienced counsellors. The service is available to adults aged 18 and over living in the Epping Forest District, with each client offered up to eight sessions of support at a minimum of £5 per session. 

“I would just like to say how wonderful this service is. Counselling ordinarily would have been out of my reach. Without the counsellor listening without judgement I know I would not have been able to navigate, as I have, the end of what has been a dreadful year for me. Thank you,” said a recent client.  

ACEF added: “The funding we, as Trustees of ACEF, have received from Essex Community Foundation is fundamental to our ability to continue this service within the local community.” 

Find out more about Affordable Counselling Epping Forest on their website linked here