Key Points

• You and Me Counselling in Hornchurch has received £496,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund.
• The funding will support the charity’s work with disadvantaged children and young people in Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
• The project is intended to provide free therapy and help the charity expand to additional sites over the next four years.
• The charity says the money will allow it to support an additional 200 children and young people during that period.
• Founder and chief executive Bolaji Olagunju said the grant will help deliver “compassionate, accessible counselling” for young people who might otherwise struggle to get help.
• You and Me Counselling says it focuses on early intervention, inclusivity and community wellbeing, and works with vulnerable children, young people and families.
• The National Lottery Community Fund says it distributes money raised by National Lottery players to support community projects across the UK.

Hornchurch (East London Times) May 20, 2026 – A counselling charity based in Hornchurch has secured £496,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to expand its support for children and young people across east London, with the organisation saying the grant will help it provide free therapy and widen access to services over the next four years.

As reported by You and Me Counselling on its official channels, the charity said it was “incredibly proud” to receive the award, adding that the money will allow it to continue and extend its work with young people who need counselling support but may otherwise struggle to obtain it.

The charity’s website says it was established in 2011, is based in the London Borough of Havering, and operates from North Street in Hornchurch.

What will the funding be used for?

The grant is aimed at helping the charity provide free therapy to an additional 200 children and young people over the next four years.

It is also expected to support the setting up of more sites, which would allow the charity to reach more families closer to where they live.

The organisation has said its work is centred on early intervention, with support tailored to children and young people in areas facing deprivation and higher demand for mental health services.

As reported by Bolaji Olagunju, founder and chief executive of You and Me Counselling, the funding will help the charity continue to provide

“compassionate, accessible counselling”

for young people in the community. She said the award would

“make a real difference to children’s wellbeing and mental health”,

according to the charity’s statement.

Why is the charity saying demand is rising?

The charity says more children are facing long waiting times or costly charges when seeking mental health support, which can delay intervention.

On its website, You and Me Counselling says it works with vulnerable children, young people and their families, including those dealing with disruptive or anti-social behaviour, truancy, and the risk of school exclusion.

The charity also says its therapists use approaches including person-centred counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and integrative methods, and that staff members work in line with professional ethical frameworks.

Its published information says all therapists hold Enhanced DBS checks and receive regular training and supervision.

What does You and Me Counselling do locally?

You and Me Counselling operates in Havering and works with young people and families in nearby boroughs including Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.

The charity says it provides information, advice, tutoring, mentoring, counselling and psychological therapies, as well as school-based early intervention support.

The organisation says it also has a play therapy room in its North Street office to help younger children explore feelings in a safe setting. Its public directory listing gives the Hornchurch address as 24 North Street, RM11 1QX.

How does the National Lottery funding fit wider support?

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK and says it distributes more than £600 million annually to support thousands of projects.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million every week for good causes, according to the fund and related National Lottery material.

For charities like You and Me Counselling, this type of funding can mean longer-term planning rather than short-term delivery, particularly where demand for children’s mental health support is growing.

The award also reflects the role of community funding in supporting local services that may not be fully covered by statutory provision.

Background of the development

You and Me Counselling says it was founded after its creator struggled to find support for her teenage son and later studied CBT, which shaped the charity’s approach to helping young people and families.

The charity began in Romford and moved to Hornchurch Town Centre in October 2015.

Its public history says the organisation has built its work around early intervention and support for children and young people who may be at risk of exclusion or emotional harm.

The charity’s latest funding award fits that longer-standing model of local, preventative mental health support.

What could this mean for young people?

For children and young people in Havering and surrounding boroughs, the funding could mean more free counselling places and shorter delays in accessing support. That may be especially relevant for families who cannot afford private therapy or who are waiting for other services.

For schools and local agencies, the charity’s expansion may increase the availability of early intervention support for pupils showing signs of distress or behavioural difficulty. Over four years, the ability to help an additional 200 young people could ease some local pressure, although the wider demand for mental health services is likely to remain significant.