A WELLINGTON counselling service has received a boost, after its CEO won a place on a prestigious leadership programme.

Rhonda Lovell, manager and CEO of Wellington Counselling CIC, is one of 15 leaders in Somerset to have been selected for a competitive learning programme and a match trading grant of up to £15,000.

Rhonda has begun a four-month accelerator learning programme with the School for Social Entrepreneurs, which supports people starting up and running social enterprises, charities, community business and environmental projects.

The programme will support her to grow the counselling business in new directions through offering clinical supervision to safeguarding leads and other staff in schools.

Rhonda says: “I am delighted to have been accepted onto the Somerset Social Entrepreneurs Programme.

“The programme, and match trading grant of up to £15,000, will help me grow Wellington Counselling CIC”.

Dirk Rohwedder, South West director for the School for Social Entrepreneurs, says: “We are delighted to welcome Rhonda onto the accelerator programme, where they will learn alongside other community leaders how to build a more resilient organisation and create greater social impact. We are confident Rhonda has the leadership qualities and motivation to increase Wellington Counselling’s  benefit to Wellington even further, which is why we have awarded her a highly coveted place.”

Meanwhile, Wellington Counselling is carrying out research to find out what young people would like from services which support their emotional wellbeing.

The survey, which takes less than five minutes to complete, will be running through primary schools and Court Fields School on the weekend of May 6.

Once Wellington Counselling have the information, they can make applications to larger funders to provide more counselling for children and young people.

More information from [email protected] 01823 765144.