Listening Post News
Jim to Run London Marathon for Listening Post
Posted by Sheila_Appleton on Tuesday, March 10 2009
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Jim finished in 3 hrs. 36 minutes - fantastic!!
Thank you so much for all the hard training that you've put in, Jim. We're so grateful!
Jim Adams is 53, was born in Gloucester, went to Marling School in Stroud, married at Randwick Church and settled with his wife, Tricia, in Cheltenham where they lived for more than 20 years before moving out to Pitchcombe three years ago - so there is a very strong local connection.
He has been running to keep fit for 30 years and ran his first London Marathon in 1988. He has completed the event five times, most recently in 2002 and despite saying "never again!" will be pulling on his battered running shoes once again to raise much-needed funds for Listening Post.
Jim is training with Stroud & Athletics club, where he runs 2 evenings a week with a long run on Sunday mornings. Up to now that has meant about 25-30 miles a week, which will increase to 35-40 miles a week from March.
If you'd like to support Jim and Listening Post through him, please either contact Listening Post on 01452 383820 or to make a direct donation online go to
http://www.justgiving.com/jimdalf
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New Cheltenham Centre. March 2007
Posted by Sheila_Appleton on Sunday, March 4 2007
Listening Post has moved into new premises in Cheltenham.
We're delighted to now be based in the Hesters Way Community Resource Centre, next to Gloscat on Princess Elizabeth Drive.
The Centre is modern and comfortable and has a small cafe on the ground floor. There is car parking available at the back of the buiding (with back entrance) and it is on a number of bus routes. Our rooms are on the first floor but there is full disabled access.
Our phone number remains : 01242 256060
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Listening Post - Gloucester Branch News Release
Posted by Sheila_Appleton on Tuesday, August 8 2006
Bishop John opens the door to a new chapter for City's Listening Post Counselling Service
Photo call /Interview opportunity
4.30pm
Friday 12th May 06
11a Spa Road Gloucester
After 15 years of helping thousands of people in their former headquarters in the YMCA in Sebert Street, the Gloucester Branch of the Listening Post Counselling Service is on the move in the City to a new HQ at 11a Spa Road.
On Friday 12th May 06 the Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Rt Rev John Went is to perform a special door opening ceremony and then he will pray on each of the three floors in the new suite of premises. For the first time Listening Post is expanding the service through the development of stress and depression management groups.
Catering for adults aged 18 and over, on average there are around 500 new referrals a year. Counsellors see people with various problems including: depression, stress, anxiety, bereavement, relationship problems, phobias, and post traumatic stress, to name a few.
The counselling charity has 56 qualified volunteer counsellors and supervisors, and 30 trained volunteer receptionists, is supported by a small team of paid staff. An organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Listening Post also has Centres in Cheltenham, Stroud and Tewkesbury.
Listening Post is a Christian charity which was developed through the vision of people from all the main church denominations. It's aim is to help people whether they have a faith or not. 93% of clients have no links with churches.
The charity's budget for the current financial year is more than £60,000 and the Director of Listening Post, Sheila Appleton says they receive no funding from statutory bodies. "The income is made up of donations from clients (according to their means), individuals, friends, churches and charitable trust grants. We do receive an income from training and fundraising events. It's always a struggle to make ends meet and it's only possible to run the service because of the large number of volunteers who give their time".
With the impending closure of the YMCA, in Sebert Street; Sheila Appleton says she's grateful for all the help and support Listening Post has received over the past 15 years. " Our thanks to the staff and board of the YMCA. Because of their support for our work, thousands of people have been helped during difficult periods in their lives during our time in Kingsholm. Having now moved to Spa Road, we look forward to the next 15!"
Sheila says "Counselling is likely to be regulated in the next few years, so in future all counsellors will need to have a Diploma or Degree. By the autumn, the majority of our counsellors and supervisors will already meet this requirement or will be in the final stage of their training . This autumn we are offering a 1 year Foundation Certificate Course in Counselling Skills and Theory. This will allow people who complete it to go onto a 2 year Diploma course elsewhere.
We also provide reasonably priced training for personnel of local organisations. We have already provided training for Health Service Staff and Gloucestershire Constabulary personnel in "Recognising and Managing Aggression". We also run "Listening Skills" courses for other charities and churches. We have an excellent "Stress Management " training programme that can be run "in house" for organisations".
Anyone seeking counselling or information on training can contact Sheila Appleton at Listening Post on 01452 383820.
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