Boost for counselling service from SuperValuand Keelogue Institute
LOCAL COUNSELLING service It’s Good 2 Talk has received a welcome boost for Christmas as two local groups have presented cheques totalling over €3,600.
The charity’s vision is to provide affordable professional counselling services to those who are vulnerable. As an organisation, it works closely with Wexford MarineWatch, and the partnerships extends out to all other necessary services that support better mental health across the county.
The first cheque, for €3,000, was presented by Eileen Coman and Helen Corish Wylde from the former Keelogue Institute, a not-for-profit group that provided classrooms, residential facilities and training programmes within and for the community until its closure a few years ago.
The two women presented the cheque to chairperson Madeleine Quirke and Cllr Davy Hynes, who is also a counsellor with It’s Good 2 Talk.
Thanking them, Madeleine said: ‘We are so grateful to receive this level of financial support and are delighted to have been acknowledged by the board of the Keelogue Institute as a charity worthy of receiving this funding.’
A second cheque, for €620, was presented to It’s Good 2 Talk by the manager and staff of Pettitt’s SuperValu, St Aidan’s, who, back in July, volunteered their time to raise funds for the group. They stood for hours, selling dozens of cupcakes at the Bannow and Rathangan Show. Nicky Byrne, manager in Pettitt’s, said they were delighted to support the charity and were already rack- ing their brains to come up with a novel fundraiser for next year.
Ms Quirke thanked the group for their generosity, commending them for supporting the local charity.
Ms Quirke said: ‘We are always striving to become a stronger entity and to work collaboratively and co-operatively in order to raise our profile. To see our organisation develop and become more relevant to those in need is first and foremost on our minds.’
She said they were humbled by the support they receive and they recognised the effort that went into so many fundraisers.
‘Every penny collected for the organisation means that we can continue to offer counselling and psychotherapy on a short-term waiting basis. These services are available to all members of the community regardless of race, creed, sexuality, mobility and ability to pay.’
The next event in the It’s Good 2 Talk calendar will be held on December 20 in Rowe Street Church at 8 p.m. Tickets
are €10 for adults and €5 for children. The concert is organised by the St Peter’s Past Pupils Union in conjunction with Wexford Marine Watch and It’s Good 2 Talk.
The group is also selling a calendar, packed with photographs of sites across the county, which is available at their offices and various other points.
Ms Quirke added that all at It’s Good 2 Talk were committed to supporting positive mental health in any way that they could.
She said: ‘Everybody is special. So many of us are vulnerable and anybody in trouble deserves the opportunity to talk to somebody who can help. With the continued support of the community, we can and do make a difference.’