Progress Cymru
Counselling

Supporting LGBTQ+ People

With your help, we can make progress.

About Us

At Progress Cymru Counselling, we are a charity dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ people, through providing affordable mental health services to those in need. Our inclusive approach ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation, can access high-quality counselling, through a free-of-charge or sliding scale model, including systemic family therapy and creative therapies.
Your support helps us continue making a positive impact on mental health and quite literally save lives.

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Counselling

We offer face-to-face counselling in a safe, comfortable setting, ensuring a supportive atmosphere for your mental health. We offer this on a sliding scale, meaning you only pay what you can afford. If you prefer, we also provide Zoom and telephone counselling sessions.

Wellbeing

Our Wellbeing Hub, is designed to help you tap into your strengths, navigate everyday challenges. You can access this service at any time and any place. We offer this service on a donation basis with over 30 self-spaced workshops.

Training

Our corporate training programmes are uniquely focused on wellbeing, designed to enhance your team’s mental and emotional resilience, boost productivity, and create a positive work environment. We also offer emotive-focused LGBTQ+ and Neurodivergence awareness training, and can provide bespoke programmes where needed.

Our History

Founded

Debbie Lane (She/Her) launched the LGBT+ Cymru Helpline in Swansea, offering a much-needed telephone support service for the LGBT+ community. It was the start of our mission to provide compassionate, confidential support.

June 2004

Introduced Counselling Services

We recognised that many people needed more support with their mental health, so we began offering professional and qualified counselling. It was a key step in providing a safe space for individuals to talk through their challenges and quite literally saving lives.

2007

Collabration

We were thrilled to receive lottery funding, which allowed us to expand our services and make an even bigger impact.

2014

Online Counselling Launches

To better serve those who couldn’t make it to in-person sessions, we launched online counselling. This made it easier for people to access our support from anywhere in Wales.

September, 2018

More National Lottery Funding

The National Lottery continued to support us with additional funding, allowing us to offer counselling to even more individuals and enhance our services.

2020

Swansea Rainbow Counselling Centre Opens

We proudly named the counselling side of LGBT+ Cymru Helpline "the Swansea Rainbow Counselling Centre" to be inclusive of our allies. Offering a dedicated space where we could offer high-quality counselling services.

PRIDE Night Celebration

We celebrated our PRIDE Night event, reflecting on the Pride Film and the Real-Life events, with Mal Pope, Sian James and Jonathan Blake from the LGSM, celebrating the solidarity and vibrant spirit of our community, allowing us to raise money for the charity.

2023

Introducing Progress Cymru Counselling

Debbie started the charity as a helpline in 2004, however over the years it has developed into a counselling service for LGBT+ people. To reflect our main focus and to unify the two parts of the charity, we’re excited to share that Progress Cymru Counselling has now been born!

June, 2004

PCS Donation

We received a generous boost from the PCS Union, which helped us grow and extend our reach to more people who needed our support.

April, 2006

Community Spirit Award

Our dedication was celebrated when Debbie Lane, CEO, won the Community Spirit Award at the Cardiff Mardi Gras. It was an honour that underscored her commitment to the community.

July, 2010

Co-Founded GoodVibes

We co-founded GoodVibes, an LGBT+ Youth Group, with YMCA Swansea, a project aimed at offering a safe and inclusive space for people to be able to be themselves.

2015

Social Media Presence Grows

We updated our logo and boosted our presence on Facebook and other social media platforms. This helped us connect with more people and raise awareness about our services.

2019

Adapting to COVID-19

When COVID-19 hit, we quickly adapted by expanding our online services. It was crucial for us to stay connected and continue supporting our clients during such a challenging time. During this time, the demand for our services skyrocketed tenfold.

2021

National Lottery Funding

Once again, the National Lottery recognised our work with additional funding, which helped us continue our mission and expand our service.

2023

Postcode Lottery Funding

Another boost came from the Postcode Lottery, giving us the opportunity to keep our doors open.

Your Generosity Saves Lives

At Progress Cymru Counselling we offer a sliding scale, which means people only pay what they can afford. With just £35, you can fund a full counselling session, offering someone in crisis the support they desperately need. All donations are used to directly benefit the community. This small amount can be a lifeline, providing a chance for healing, hope, and a way forward.

Life Saving Service

Mental health support isn’t just important—it’s life-saving. By donating, you’re directly contributing to a service that offers hope, healing, and sometimes, a lifeline to those in crisis. Your generosity can literally save lives.

BACP Counsellors

Quality and ethics are at the heart of our service. All of our counsellors are trained, accredited and adhere to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), ensuring the highest standards of care. Your support helps us maintain this level of excellence.

Unlimited Sessions

Unlike many services that limit the number of counselling sessions, we offer unlimited support to ensure people receive the help they need for as long as they need it. Your contribution helps us sustain this vital resource, giving people the time and care they deserve.

Eclectic Approach

We believe that each person’s journey is unique, and our counselling approach reflects that. With your donation, we can continue to provide client-centred, eclectic therapies that meets people where they are at, addressing their specific needs and challenges.

For £5 you can

Progress Cymru Pledge

Make a pledge of £5 per month so that we can continue our vital work

For £35 you can

Pay Forward One Session

Fully fund a counselling session for someone else, who is in desperate need

For £210 you can

Pay for 6 Sessions

Your support can provide life-saving therapy and support to those at risk of suicide

Or for a chance to win up to £25,000

Support Us Through the Rainbow Lottery

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Support Progress Cymru Counselling by playing the Rainbow Lottery! It’s an easy way to make a difference—50% of every ticket purchased comes directly back to our charity, helping us continue our vital work.

Not only do you get the chance to win amazing prizes, with our grand prize being £25,000, you’re also helping us provide essential support to the LGBT+ community. Play today and make a real impact!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

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