Counselling All Nations Services

The Association is established to preserve, protect and promote mental, emotional and psychological health and wellbeing, promote social inclusion, equality and diversity for the public benefit, relieve poverty, anxiety and stress and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants and in particular but not exclusively members of the black and minority ethnic (BME) communities (hereinafter called the “beneficiaries”) resident in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (hereinafter called the “area of benefit”) without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, medical and other public health bodies, community and voluntary organisations and the beneficiaries in a common effort to promote health and relieve suffering with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said beneficiaries and in particular: (a) to maintain and manage or co-operate with any local or statutory authority in the maintenance of a centre or centres in the area of benefit for activities promoted by the Association to alleviate suffering and trauma by the provision of a community-based culturally sensitive drop-in-centre or centres offering emotional support and culturally sensitive counselling services to individuals in need; (b) to relieve the hardship experienced by people from cultural and minority ethnic backgrounds suffering emotional and psychological distress and social exclusion by the provision of a culturally sensitive listening and counselling service which is available in English and other languages according to the client’s preference and the availability of resources; (c) to relieve suffering and stress and promote the preservation and protection of emotional, psychological and mental health and wellbeing of those people and their families in the area of benefit who are suffering or experiencing mental or emotional distress and anguish as a result of stress, anxiety, depression, family breakdown, self-esteem, self-harming, grief, bereavement, trauma, social and economic circumstances, domestic abuse and violence, suicidal ideation or actions, divorce or difficulties in their personal lives by the provision of counselling and emotional support services and other related services; (d) to relieve poverty and financial hardship by the provision of free or subsidized counselling services, support and assistance to persons who, through lack of means, would otherwise be unable to obtain such services and support; (e) to promote charitable research and studies in the theories, conduct, methods and practice of culturally sensitive counselling practices and to disseminate the useful results of such research for the public benefit; (f) to advance education and to facilitate opportunities and training for counselors, trainee counselors and volunteer counselors, so that they may treat and relieve persons experiencing or suffering from mental and emotional distress. For the purposes of this article ‘socially excluded’ means people who are excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship or low income; race; poor educational or skills attainment; substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; disability; sexuality, religion nationality or ethnic origin; or have experienced a lack of sensitivity to cultural issues).