Beacon Counselling Trust

13/02/2026

Beacon Counselling Trust are pleased to announce and welcome Trek Therapy CIC as the most recent organisation to join the Workplace Charter to Reduce Gambling Related Harms initiative.

Trek Therapy CIC have demonstrated their commitment to supporting local communities through their activities that engage individuals in benefits of nature connectedness and walking for wellbeing in the outdoors.

In joining the Workplace Charter initiative, Trek Therapy CIC continue their commitment and support to those in recovery from gambling related harm and other addictions.

09/02/2026

Jon from our Education team was invited to Wirral University Teaching Hospitals staff wellbeing event, held at Arrowe Park hospital. Jon enjoyed discussing the support BCT offer at this well attended event, discussing with staff how they can access our support and how refer their patients in also. We look forward to attending the next WUTH wellbeing event at the end of this month.

06/02/2026

Jon from our Education Team was invited back to Preston College. Jon had delivered a great session to the new cohort of students last year. This was the first of two visits to Preston College this year to deliver our FREE ‘Sometimes it’s more than a game’ workshops, giving students all that they need to know about the harms of gambling and gaming. If you would like our Education Team to attend your school/college, please get in touch!

21/01/2026

We’re incredibly proud of Sian, our Early Intervention & Education Lead, who has bravely shared her lived experience with the Liverpool Echo and The Mirror newspapers last week.
Sian’s story powerfully highlights the real dangers of gambling harm and the devastating impact it can have — not just on individuals, but on families and communities too.
At Beacon, we see every day how vital it is to:
🔹 Provide free and confidential support for anyone affected by gambling harm
🔹 Ensure education and awareness are at the heart of prevention
🔹 Working together with other agencies to tackle gambling harm effectively
🔹 Support and collaborate with important initiatives such as the Liverpool City Council Gambling Harm Campaign

By sharing her story, Sian is helping to break stigma, raise awareness, and show that support and recovery are possible.
If you or someone you know is affected by gambling harm, Beacon is here to help … you don’t have to face it alone.

You can read the articles on the following links
Mum lost £400k and ended up in prison after she went to bingo
Mum went to bingo with work then lost £400,000 and ended up in prison

Contact us on:
0151 226 0696
Support@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk

Beacon NorthWest PublicHealth

12/01/2026

Following on from his incredible running efforts across 2025, BCT’s Jon smashed his final race of 2025 at Aintree Race Course!

Jon took part in an incredible 13 major events in 2025 to help raise vital funds for our Paul’s Place Su***de Bereavement Programme and this was his final big event.

Jon has raised over £1,000 for Paul’s Place already! There have been challenges along the way but he has pushed through courageously.

Well done Jon, we are all very proud of you!

05/01/2026

Paul’s Place would like to say a big thanks to Father Liam Collister from St Oswald’s and St Sebastian’s for his fabulous fundraising efforts for Movember in aid of our Paul’s Place Su***de Bereavement Programme. Father Collister raised an amazing £1285 for our service and it was lovely to have him visit our Tuesday Peer Support Group to present his cheque. Thank you, Father Collister.

05/01/2026

All from our Paul’s Place Su***de Bereavement Service would like to say a special thank you for what has been a remarkable year of fundraising in 2025.
Our vital service is not NHS or local government funded and we rely on donations, grants and fundraising to help us to continue to provide our essential support.
On Friday 07/11/2025 we held an incredible and at times emotional event at the Devonshire House Hotel to help raise funds for our service.
The event was suggested to us by Tony Murray who has done so much to support charities in the Merseyside area and beyond.
Tony and the team put together a wonderful nights entertainment. Special thank you to Tony, Trevor, Darren, and Paul’s Place Co-founders Agnes and Joe for their hard work.
We are pleased to announce that the night was a great success on a number of levels with a raffle, an envelope game and auction raising over £14,000 during the evening.
Whilst the night itself was impactful, the hard work and connections made in the lead up to the event have seen this total rise further.
It is hard to measure the full longer-term impact but we are delighted to say that kind donations and further fundraising that can be directly linked to the night has seen the grand total raised now to a staggering £22,893.57!
To those that attended the night, our fabulous entertainers, volunteers and supporters we would like to say a great big thank you!
For those that sponsored tables, your support was greatly appreciated and we hope to work together in the future on more fundraising events!
We have big plans for 2026, please follow all of our social media channels to keep up to date and to avoid missing out!

If you would like to join a mailing list for future Paul’s Place events please email
paulsplace@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk and we will add you to this list.

18/12/2025

Our Paul’s Place service users recently stayed in the beautiful city of York for an overnight Journey of Discovery. This trip was thoroughly enjoyed by all and brings to an end an amazing year of Journeys that offer social connection to the group. We are all looking forward to what Journeys 2026 has in store.

17/12/2025

Day 3 - Hope in recovery, a real story

This is what recovery looks like
One year ago, this person was at rock bottom. Their gambling addiction had taken over their life.
Today, they’re: Performing music again (something they’d lost)

- In the strongest financial position in years
- In a wholesome, fulfilling relationship with their wife
- Focusing on health and nutrition
- Completely gamble-free since November 29th, 2023

Their message to you:
“It’s been a journey but the best one in terms of results and feelings. If you’re struggling, please reach out.”
Recovery is possible. This Christmas could be your turning point.
Self-refer online: https://beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk/get-support/
Need to talk now?
- National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (24/7)
- Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7)

Support

17/12/2025

We were delighted to be part of the Primary Care Gambling Service and Age UK Lambeth’s collaborative conference to promote the work of the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. It was great to raise awareness of the Armed Forces as a key target group for gambling harm.

harm

16/12/2025

The festive season can make gambling harm harder to hide.
Maybe you're:
- Borrowing money to buy Christmas presents
- Betting more because you have time off
- Avoiding family gatherings out of shame
- Feeling isolated while everyone else celebrates
- Promising yourself you'll "sort it out in January"
Don't wait.
Beacon Counselling Trust is here throughout Christmas and beyond. Free, confidential support with no waiting list.
You deserve help. You deserve hope. You deserve a better Christmas - and a better new year.
🌐 Self-refer online: beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk/get-support/
24/7 helplines:
📞 National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133
📞 Samaritans: 116 123

Get Support HomeGet Support You are not alone Acknowledgement and Asking for help Gambling-related therapy Su***de Bereavement Support Programme Educational gambling awareness workshops Contact us How can we help you? We offer a variety of different services and support programmes.Whether you are se...

16/12/2025

A “HUGE THANKS” to Martin Farrell and John Swain (from The RGS Golf Society), who visited us recently with their annual donation to our charity. This year their fundraising efforts totalled £1031.25 (including Gift Aid).

We really do appreciate your support and please pass on our thanks to all the golfers involved.