Hulme's lesson in compassion

Two years ago, when a local voluntary counselling service called out for help, it was Hulme Grammar School who came to the rescue.

They offered a lifeline to the service and the people whom Side by Side Counselling support.

Side by Side Counselling was established in 2007, offering free counselling to residents of Oldham and Ashton and providing work placements for aspiring counsellors.

Having struggled during Covid, the offer of support from such a prestigious institution was invaluable to the service, allowing them in turn, to support those in need within the community.

Luke Entwistle, Head of Service for Side by Side, said: "Hulme Grammar's offer of rooms came just at the right time for Side by Side.

"Without their continued help and without the support of the school, our service may not still be here today.

"In helping us, Hulme Grammar is teaching its pupils and the residents of Oldham that compassion should always be the cornerstone of society."

The school has a range of outreach programmes in the community, and this partnership maximises the help that can be given to local people at a time when mental health services are stretched, waiting lists for NHS services are long and when people are struggling with their mental health more than ever.

One client who received counselling at Tullie House explained the positive impact of counselling on his life.

They said: "Everyone should do this. It's helped me so much," while another told added: "My counselling has been a huge revelation to me. I never thought I would get to where I am now. It feels like I've found myself at last."

Side by Side works with clients aged 17+, aiming to facilitate their developing self-awareness, thus empowering them to work through issues which can cause low self-esteem, isolation, lack of motivation and an inability to connect to others.

Over the last two years, the rooms provided at Tullie House by Hulme Grammar School have allowed Side by Side to offer over 360 hours of counselling to 74 clients and it has also supported eight counsellors in the completion of Bachelor's Degrees and Master's Degrees whilst on placement with the service.

Many counsellors continue to volunteer for the service after they have qualified, providing mentorship to student counsellors.

Karen Roach, who works both as a Teacher for Hulme Grammar and as a qualified counsellor for Side by Side, was instrumental in helping to initiate this part of the service.

She said: “In setting this example, we can not only demonstrate the importance of good mental health but also emphasise that everyone can benefit from counselling.

"It is an excellent opportunity to challenge some of the stigma surrounding the idea of counselling, enabling pupils to see it as a more ‘normal’ thing to do.

"Often, pupils aren’t clear about what counselling actually is, so I am a familiar face within school whom they can approach with any questions they may have.”

Mr Andrew Marshall, Deputy Principal Pastoral at Hulme Grammar School, said: "At Hulme Grammar School, we are deeply committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff, parents, and the wider community.

"Through our Public Benefit and Outreach strategy, we strive to make a meaningful impact by working closely with families and local organisations, such as Side by Side Counselling.

"We are incredibly proud of the work Side by Side does and stand by their commitment to ensuring everyone has access to the care they need."

Side by Side is a donation-based service which now operates across three sites, including Tullie House, Positive Steps in Oldham and the Church of the Nazarene in Ashton.

Face-to-Face counselling is available to the general public every Tuesday evening 5-9pm, with telephone counselling available more flexibly throughout the week.

For more information on the service or to refer yourself for counselling, please visit: www.SidebySideCounselling.co.uk or call 07376 799797.

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