Nottingham Counselling Service – about us

Nottingham Counselling Service – our history, counsellors, trustees and management

The aim of Nottingham Counselling Service (NCS) and our counsellors is to promote emotional health and well-being through inclusive and accessible services and practices.

History

Although established in 1977 as Nottingham Counselling Centre (as it was then known), we can trace our history back to 1875 with the formation of the Charity Organisation Society.

Today, we have grown to become one of the leading independent providers of therapy and support for adults living, studying and working in Nottinghamshire. 

Nottingham Counselling Service – our counsellors

All our counsellors are highly qualified and experienced in working with people from all walks of life.  They have excellent listening skills and are trained to listen to you without judgment to help understand your current difficulties, past experiences, present anxieties and concerns about the future. 

When you visit one of our counsellors, they are trained to help you to make your own choices and decisions about the changes you want to make in your life.  They are there to listen and support you, not to give advice or tell you how you should feel and what you should do.

Counsellors:

• Our counsellors undergo regular, rigorous appraisals to ensure a highly professional standard of practice and service
• Our counsellors are Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checked
• Most of our counsellors are BACP accredited and/or registered members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP); all other counsellors are further or advanced training. All counsellors are professionally supervised and work within the Ethical Framework for Good Practice of the BACP.

Trustees and Executive Committee Members

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated 14th July 1994 and registered Charity since 1983. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association with objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up the members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company’s articles are known as members of the Executive Committee. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and articles of Association the member of the Executive Committee are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and hold office until the next AGM following their election or re-election.

NCS has an Executive Committee comprising of no less to seven members who meet ten times per year.  The members are responsible for the strategic directions and policies of the Charity.  The members are from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the Charity. The Company Secretary who is also the Executive Director sits on the Committee but has no voting rights. The current Board members are as folows:

Dr Chris Udenze – Chairperson
Chris is a local GP with a practice based in St Ann, Nottingham. He has a major interest in psycho-social aspects of health and extensive experience of undertaking assessments under the Mental Health Act as an approved practitioner. Chris is a member of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust and has served on the Management Committee of Amaani Tallawah a local black mental health group. Date of appointment: January 2011.

Angie Whitehead – Vice Chairperson
Angie has served as a Trustee and Executive Committee member since September 2003 and has been Joint Chair of the Board of Trustees for two years. Angie is also a qualified counsellor working for the Connexions Service as Personal Adviser.

Steve Adcock– Treasurer
A partner and director of a local firm of accountants. He is the firm’s Charity Expert. Appointed Trustee October 2010.

Jinny Gray – Trustee
Jinny has served as a Trustee and Executive Committee member since November 1998 and is the longest serving member of the Committee. She is also a qualified senior counsellor.

Tony Curtis – Trustee
Tony Curtis is a retired solicitor with experience in the management of a solicitors practice, a building company, nursing homes and a large commercial property portfolio.  He has been Trustee and member of the Executive Committee since January 2002.

Ros Hill – Trustee
Professionally trained as a Social Worker and trained as a Counsellor at NCS. Currently a Manager Community CAMHS. Appointed October 2010.

Shirish Patel – Trustee
Local businessman and healing therapist. Appointed October 2010.

Leslie McDonald – Executive Director & Company Secretary
Leslie was appointed as Executive Director and Company Secretary in September 2005. He has a background of more than 20 years in senior management within the business support and regeneration sector. He holds a Masters Degree with Distinction in Entrepreneurship from the University of Nottingham.

Leslie brings expertise and experience in consulting, voluntary sector development and engagement with Black and Ethnic communities.