Summary
Gloucestershire charity Linc has launched its new free counselling service at the Forum in Gloucester. The service has zero wait times to help patients and their families dealing with a blood cancer diagnosis access essential mental health care.
Details
The Linc Counselling Service was officially opened by Cotswold TV celebrity, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and wife Jackie, who are both charity patrons, yesterday (September 23) at a special event at Patch at the Forum. Announced during Blood Cancer Awareness month, the launch marks a significant milestone in the charity’s five-year strategy to expand support for people living with blood cancer across Gloucestershire.
Operating as a six-month pilot, the service will provide approximately 360 hours of free counselling for around 40 patients and family members, with plans to scale to meet growing demands. The confidential space operates from the charity’s dedicated Wellbeing Space at its headquarters at Patch. The service is funded entirely by donations – for example, £800 could help provide 12 weeks of counselling.
Recent NHS data reports that 87% of UK patients accessed the health service’s free counselling and mental health service within six weeks of a referral this year, down from 91% in 2025 and 92% in 2024. Through Linc’s Counselling Service, local patients are contacted by a counsellor either the same day or within one working day of referral, ensuring they can access emotional support when they need it most.
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Louise Neal, CEO of Linc , said: “People facing a blood cancer diagnosis often need support quickly as they navigate life-changing treatment. “This was really clear from the views we gathered late last year from patients, families and clinicians. More is needed for wellbeing and specifically counselling on top of the incredible clinical psychology service we already fund.
“A diagnosis creates a ripple effect, where people are understandably worried about what the future looks like, while trying to manage everyday life on top. It hits the family hard, as they are the ones juggling everything while worrying about their loved one and feeling helpless. If we can help them, they can help the patient more.
“Our counsellors also work with patients who have finished their treatment. They help them process what they have gone through and what their life post-cancer looks like, as the fear of reoccurrence is very real.” Emma Tom, 46, from Chalford , benefited from Linc’s support. She was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in 2023, after experiencing increasing breathlessness and heaviness in her arms and legs.
Following a bone marrow biopsy, doctors discovered that 80% of her blood cells were leukaemia cells. She was given a low chance of survival and immediately began intensive chemotherapy treatment. The diagnosis forced her to stop work overnight, placing additional emotional and financial pressures on the family, while her husband became the primary carer for their two children and the only earner in the household.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
