Specialist mental health and education service for people aged 16+ across the Northwest.
Beacon Counselling Trust (BCT) is a Northwest wide mental health charity (1140011) which specialises in a range of early intervention, education, clinical and mental health programmes.
For over 10 years, BCT have offered free, confidential specialist support across the North West for individuals experiencing harm from their own gambling, or the gambling or someone else. This support is offered to anyone over the age of 16, and can be delivered face-to-face, online, or over the phone, with no waiting list.
BCT offer a range of advice and guidance, as well as therapeutic interventions through one-to-one or couples sessions, to support those experiencing gambling harms. These interventions are delivered by qualified and experienced therapists and psychological practitioners. BCT also support individuals through a range of long-term recovery programmes, both for the individual who gambled and the affected individuals. This support is delivered through lived-experience led peer support, group support, outdoor walking therapy, community-based interventions, and specialist support to address the practical issues that can occur due to gambling harms.
BCT also offer gambling harms training through the Bet You Can Help course, accredited by RSPH, giving a Level 2 award in Tackling Gambling Harms.
For more information on our education/support programmes, or to make a professional referral or self-referral:
Following on from his incredible running efforts across 2025, BCT’s Jon smashed his final race of 2025 at Aintree Race Course!
Jon took part in an incredible 13 major events in 2025 to help raise vital funds for our Paul’s Place Su***de Bereavement Programme and this was his final big event.
Jon has raised over £1,000 for Paul’s Place already! There have been challenges along the way but he has pushed through courageously.
Well done Jon, we are all very proud of you!
05/01/2026
Paul’s Place would like to say a big thanks to Father Liam Collister from St Oswald’s and St Sebastian’s for his fabulous fundraising efforts for Movember in aid of our Paul’s Place Su***de Bereavement Programme. Father Collister raised an amazing £1285 for our service and it was lovely to have him visit our Tuesday Peer Support Group to present his cheque. Thank you, Father Collister.
05/01/2026
All from our Paul’s Place Su***de Bereavement Service would like to say a special thank you for what has been a remarkable year of fundraising in 2025.
Our vital service is not NHS or local government funded and we rely on donations, grants and fundraising to help us to continue to provide our essential support.
On Friday 07/11/2025 we held an incredible and at times emotional event at the Devonshire House Hotel to help raise funds for our service.
The event was suggested to us by Tony Murray who has done so much to support charities in the Merseyside area and beyond.
Tony and the team put together a wonderful nights entertainment. Special thank you to Tony, Trevor, Darren, and Paul’s Place Co-founders Agnes and Joe for their hard work.
We are pleased to announce that the night was a great success on a number of levels with a raffle, an envelope game and auction raising over £14,000 during the evening.
Whilst the night itself was impactful, the hard work and connections made in the lead up to the event have seen this total rise further.
It is hard to measure the full longer-term impact but we are delighted to say that kind donations and further fundraising that can be directly linked to the night has seen the grand total raised now to a staggering £22,893.57!
To those that attended the night, our fabulous entertainers, volunteers and supporters we would like to say a great big thank you!
For those that sponsored tables, your support was greatly appreciated and we hope to work together in the future on more fundraising events!
We have big plans for 2026, please follow all of our social media channels to keep up to date and to avoid missing out!
If you would like to join a mailing list for future Paul’s Place events please email paulsplace@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk and we will add you to this list.
18/12/2025
Our Paul’s Place service users recently stayed in the beautiful city of York for an overnight Journey of Discovery. This trip was thoroughly enjoyed by all and brings to an end an amazing year of Journeys that offer social connection to the group. We are all looking forward to what Journeys 2026 has in store.
17/12/2025
Day 3 - Hope in recovery, a real story
This is what recovery looks like
One year ago, this person was at rock bottom. Their gambling addiction had taken over their life.
Today, they’re: Performing music again (something they’d lost)
- In the strongest financial position in years
- In a wholesome, fulfilling relationship with their wife
- Focusing on health and nutrition
- Completely gamble-free since November 29th, 2023
Their message to you:
“It’s been a journey but the best one in terms of results and feelings. If you’re struggling, please reach out.”
Recovery is possible. This Christmas could be your turning point.
Self-refer online: https://beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk/get-support/
Need to talk now?
- National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (24/7)
- Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7)
Support
17/12/2025
We were delighted to be part of the Primary Care Gambling Service and Age UK Lambeth’s collaborative conference to promote the work of the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. It was great to raise awareness of the Armed Forces as a key target group for gambling harm.
harm
16/12/2025
The festive season can make gambling harm harder to hide.
Maybe you're:
- Borrowing money to buy Christmas presents
- Betting more because you have time off
- Avoiding family gatherings out of shame
- Feeling isolated while everyone else celebrates
- Promising yourself you'll "sort it out in January"
Don't wait.
Beacon Counselling Trust is here throughout Christmas and beyond. Free, confidential support with no waiting list.
You deserve help. You deserve hope. You deserve a better Christmas - and a better new year.
🌐 Self-refer online: beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk/get-support/
24/7 helplines:
📞 National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133
📞 Samaritans: 116 123
Get Support HomeGet Support You are not alone Acknowledgement and Asking for help Gambling-related therapy Su***de Bereavement Support Programme Educational gambling awareness workshops Contact us How can we help you? We offer a variety of different services and support programmes.Whether you are se...
16/12/2025
A “HUGE THANKS” to Martin Farrell and John Swain (from The RGS Golf Society), who visited us recently with their annual donation to our charity. This year their fundraising efforts totalled £1031.25 (including Gift Aid).
We really do appreciate your support and please pass on our thanks to all the golfers involved.
15/12/2025
Day 1 - You’re not alone this Christmas!
Christmas can feel lonely when you’re struggling with gambling harm.
The financial pressure. The family gatherings you’re avoiding. The shame that keeps you silent.
But you don’t have to face this season alone.
- Free confidential support available.
- No waiting list
- Self-referral is easy
Reaching out is the bravest gift you can give yourself this Christmas.
Our Education Team attended the DBV 2nd Annual SEND conference in Halton. The conference was brilliant with so many agencies who are part of the Halton Local offer coming together to support such an amazing event.
15/12/2025
As is now tradition, our Paul’s Place Christmas moneywall is in place for the 2025 Festive Season, please considering donating, doing so will help us to continue to support adults bereaved by su***de in the Merseyside area.
We would like to take this moment to also thank all who have raised funds for our service in 2025, your fundraising is greatly appreciated and does so much to ensure that those in need of this vital service can continue to access support from Paul’s Place.
“WISHING YOU A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS & A HOPEFUL, HEALTHY NEW YEAR”
Help Agnes Williams raise money to support PAUL'S PLACE - BCT
10/12/2025
Beacon Counselling Trust are extremely pleased to announce that Haringey Council have completed the Workplace Charter to Reduce Gambling Related Harms.
In completing this process to reduce gambling harms Haringey Council become the first council in London to join this important initiative.
Haringey have consistently demonstrated their commitment to address gambling harms across the borough through a wide range of activity. They now pledge their support to their workforce through attending the ‘Bet You Can Help’ gambling harms training programme and the implementation of gambling harms within their policy framework.
We thank and congratulate Haringey Council for joining the Workplace Charter and setting a benchmark for other organisations and local authorities across London to follow them.
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FREE counselling for people with gambling-related issues, including affected partners, family members and friends, with no waiting list. We also offer help in regards to self-exclusion, just call 0151 321 1099 or email admin@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk For more information on this visit http://www.gamcare.org.uk/
FREE Couples Counselling if affected by problematic gambling, with no waiting list.
FREE Specialist Bereavement Counselling Service called Paul’s Place, for those bereaved by su***de across Merseyside. This programme is completely self-funded and receives no NHS or Government funding, so any support is most graciously accepted. If you would like to donate please see the attached link https://www.justgiving.com/beaconcounsellingtrust
If the above does not apply to you, we also offer private therapy for a range of different issues, such as:
Addiction Counselling
Anger Management Therapy
Behavioural Issues
Children and Young People
Confidence and Self Esteem
Coping with General Health Matters
Couple Counselling
Depression
Domestic Violence
Eating Disorder
Family/Caring Responsibilities
Gender/Sexuality Issues
Personal and Life Issues
Phobias
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
R**e and Sexual Abuse
Rehabilitating a Back to Work Process
Relationship Counselling
Stress and Anxiety
Work Related Stress
