Our history
Trust Therapies formed in 2022 following a merger between Aire, Wharfe and Craven Counselling, Bradford Counselling Service and The Cellar Trust. Here’s a history of each organisation.
Aire, Wharfe and Craven Counselling (AWC Counselling) was established in 2017 after a merger between Aire Valley Counselling, a community interest company set up in 2011, and Versa Organisation Ltd, a charitable company, set up in 1997. The time had come to modernise what had first begun its life, in 1983, as Keighley Women’s Centre. These organisations have consistently moved with the times, re-inventing themselves to keep pace with the community’s demand for relevant services. AWC Counselling was a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) – a new type of charity offering straightforward, robust governance and accountability with greater freedom to raise funds and sustain itself.
In 1990 Bradford Counselling Services started life as Off the Record to meet the need for confidential counselling services for young people in Bradford. Services were delivered at the Community Centre in Shipley and the Wool Exchange throughout the 90’s. Off the Record was funded by the Tudor Trust and Rank Foundation and counselling was provided through volunteers. By 1997 and with help from Lottery funding, the organisation was able to employ part-time counsellors.
Off the Record became Bradford Counselling Services in 2006 and began offering counselling to adults as well as young people. Since then, our main funding has been from the NHS which has allowed us to consolidate our organisation and offer more services to a wider client group.
For 30 years we have been supporting the diverse communities of Bradford and the surrounding area.? We work to ensure positive change, and for some clients the interventions are lifesaving. Each year over 800 people access our services with a wide range of presenting issues. We are proud to hold the status of one of the most trusted and well-respected counselling charities in Bradford. This is an exciting time for us as we continue to develop our counselling offer through innovative service delivery, seeking always to meet the counselling needs of the people in our area.
Click here to read about The Cellar Trust.