Twelve years ago, Eileen Kerr set up a counselling service to meet what she viewed as a great need within her local community.
Eileen, 79, is the founder and a past volunteer of East Belfast Mission Care Counselling, which proved to be a second career after many years spent working with Marie Curie.
EBM Care Counselling is a free counselling and psychotherapy service which helps people with their difficult thoughts and feelings and supports them in finding solutions to their difficulties.
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East Belfast Mission is part of the Methodist Church in Ireland and has a long track record of social engagement in the inner city and works to achieve renewal and transformation in the local community. Its free Care Counselling service is non-judgmental and open to anyone, no matter their background.
"Previously I had worked as a social worker at the Marie Curie hospice for around 10 years so I got to know people in the area and their needs," Eileen told Belfast Live.
"Working with Marie Curie also provided me with the knowledge and understanding of death and bereavement, which was a help when I moved to East Belfast Mission and had to deal with people with family members who were ill and dying.
"When I started working with EBM that was a whole different scene and I found that there was a definite need among people there of all ages to have somebody they could turn to."
Since then, Eileen’s counselling service has been vital in East Belfast as she has helped men who faced a difficult upbringing, young people uncertain of the future, women who have lost a baby and cancer nurses stretched to their limit.
The service has gone on to help many people over the years including men who have faced a difficult upbringing, young people uncertain of the future and cancer nurses who have been stretched to their limit.
She has worked with ex-paramilitary men who thought they were sinners beyond forgiveness to clergy who were doubting themselves, members of the LGBTQA+ community, people who have faced abuse and people who felt they could no longer go on.
"A lot of people would have felt a bit embarrassed about or put off by the idea of coming for counselling and you had to accept their situation. I didn't always use that term counselling and instead I'd say to them about coming for a chat or to talk things over together. It was about creating a friendly atmosphere where people didn't feel threatened in any way," Eileen explained.
"For them it was a pride thing and they didn't want other people in the area to know that they were coming for counselling so it had to all be done very privately. There would have been quite a number of single and lonely people who came," she added.
"Sometimes they didn't have any family to turn to or in some situations family was the reason for their distress. They were also a bit frightened to share their story and you had to work hard to get alongside people before they felt comfortable enough to open up. For some once they had shared, it was hard for them to stop."
Eileen has been there for all of them, supporting her clients no matter their background or the shape of their journey. She has laughed with them and cried with them, supporting them to realise their full potential.
"It all worked out very well and people were surprisingly responsive and opened up in ways I never expected them to. We have been there for so many in the community, supporting them no matter what their background. Some people got more out of it than others but on the whole it was helpful.
"When we started at first I thought that probably nobody would come to us but that was not the case at all. We were able to get referrals from EBM as well so it has certainly met the need. I think the trust between the counsellors and those seeking help is what sets the work of Care Counselling apart."
At last year's Eastside Awards, Eileen received the coveted Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by East Belfast Enterprise. While she is now stepping back from Care Counselling to enjoy a well-earned retirement, the work will continue but as they are a free service, any support is crucial.
East Belfast Mission is hosting a quiz night on March 2 in Northern Ireland’s first-ever taproom, Boundary Brewing on the Newtownards Road, to raise much needed funds for this vital and free service.
Eileen said: “The work of Care Counselling is vital in the community, and I would encourage people to support it in any way they can. As it is a free service, fundraising events such as the EBM Quiz are so important. I’d urge anyone in the local area and beyond to go along and have a good time, while also supporting a good cause.”
Items up for auction on the night include a £50 Jungle NI voucher, Streamvale Farm voucher for a family of six, Dundonald voucher for a family of four, four tickets to Empire Laughs Back and a £50 Little Wings voucher. Prizes on the night include a voucher for Boundary Brewing and a bottle of wine. There will also be free food for all participants to enjoy.
Tickets cost £5 per person or £20 for a group of five people and are available to purchase here or on Eventbrite by searching EBM Quiz Night.
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