Riverside Counselling Service, a Henley based charity, is inviting people to join their campaign ‘Step Out for Riverside’. The campaign aims to encourage people of all ages to set themselves a challenge, get outside and help fundraise for the charity.

“Being outside has huge benefits to our mental health and well-being”, says Hilary Arthur, Riverside’s Director and Clinical Lead. “It can improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress or anger and just helps you take time out and feel more relaxed.”

The campaign will run through March and April and people are invited to set their own challenge or target. The charity aims to raise £5,000 which would be used to help fund counselling sessions. Amanda Collins, Riverside’s Fundraising Manager, explained, “This could be a morning walk, 10,000 Steps a Day, a local bike ride, a family hike through the words, a 5km run or a longer challenge maybe along the Thames or in the Chiltern Hills. We would love children and families to get involved. The main message is to try to get outside, as little or often as you can. Donating or fundraising to the campaign will make a huge difference to people living in our community who are struggling with their mental health at these very difficult times”.

Riverside is based in Henley and supports adults and young people from the age of 12 years across South Oxfordshire by providing counselling, support groups and workshops. They support over 180 people every month and have seen a rise in demand for their services over the past year.

Hilary said: “Riverside have been here throughout the coronavirus pandemic supporting both existing clients and welcoming new referrals. Our services moved on-line back in March 2020 and we have continued to operate remotely for most of the year. The pandemic has had a huge impact on people’s metal health any we expect that more people will need counselling support and use our services as this lockdown ends. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we receive from the local community. We rely heavily on fundraising to run our services so it would be wonderful if people could join ‘Step Out for Riverside’ and consider donating or fundraising for Riverside.”

For more information and details about how to join ‘Step Out for Riverside’ go to  riversidecounsellingservice.co.uk/step-out-campaign/

To make a donation please go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/stepout

• Riverside Counselling Service is a registered charity (no 1018853) that has been providing a professional, affordable counselling service since 1989 to adults and young people from the age of 12 years.
• The charity is based in Henley-on-Thames and also operates in Wallingford, Didcot and Bernisfield.
• Riverside provides 1:1 counselling and workshops to a complete cross-section of the community.
• Our counsellors see over 180 clients a month supporting a range of mental health issues including depression and anxiety, relationship issues, loss, bereavement, and many other complex mental health conditions.
• Riverside’s counselling services are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.