Congratulations to Jo Allen who has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her dedication in providing local mental health services to children, adults and families at the 麻豆原创-accredited The Counselling and Family Centre (CFC).

CFC has provided mental health support and services across Trafford and Greater Manchester for more than 40 years. Its model of means-based pricing and grant-funded access ensures that nobody is excluded from care due to financial constraints.

A vital community hub

After starting as a counsellor with the service, over the past 20 years Jo鈥檚 helped build the centre into a vital community hub, supporting more than 2,500 people a year.

Her work has helped CFC reach the most vulnerable 鈥� people on low incomes and those in crisis 鈥� and provided much needed access to professional mental health support without delay.

New approaches to care

Under her leadership CFC has innovated new approaches to care, introduced school outreach, workplace mental health training, and even a therapeutic allotment space to promote emotional resilience.

BEMs recognise "hands-on" service to the community, often through charitable or voluntary work and are announced in the King鈥檚 Birthday Honours List.

Jo said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to receive this honour, and it鈥檚 a reflection of the amazing life-changing work of the whole team and CFC.

鈥淟ike many third sector counselling services, we鈥檙e facing rising demand for our work and need for further funding to continue to reach into our communities. This recognition emphasises the importance of services such as ours.鈥�