Counselling service will not receive grant funding

A counselling service in Aberdeen which has seen referrals almost double due to a surge in demand will not receive future grant funding from the council and NHS.

Cairns Counselling had to cut the number of free sessions it offers by half to tackle lengthy waiting lists following the recent closure of fellow charity Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA).

It received funding from the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership - support it described as crucial.

However, its latest funding request was turned down after being considered by the partnership at a meeting of the city council's Integration Joint Board (IJB). Cairns expressed disappointment at the news.

Counselling sessions are offered for free, but Cairns asks clients for donations if they can afford it.

The IJB said it will now review all mental health and counselling services in the city to "ensure they meet the needs of those who require services".

In a statement to BBC Scotland News, chairman Hussein Patwa said: "The IJB is committed to taking robust decisions that meet the needs of the people of Aberdeen, making the most of the resources available.

"The landscape of mental health support is changing in the city."

Cairns Counselling chief executive Claire Moggach said she fully appreciated the "challenges and difficult decisions" being faced.

"It is of course extremely disappointing to hear that Cairns Counselling will not be in receipt of financial support in the coming year," she said.

"We have been in limbo since March, awaiting the outcome of this review.

"At this time the full impact of cuts is unknown, however it is not unlikely that the capacity will be limited for our service and many others, while demand for support continues to increase."

Mental Health Aberdeen had announced in July it had taken the decision to close with immediate effect after "working tirelessly to explore all available options".

The charity, which operated for 75 years, said it had faced a complex set of circumstances, including growing pressure on its services.