Sunshine Project was born in April 2003 after Linda Porter worked in the community for Olive Tree Project (charity for Domestic Violence). She heard a story from a social worker, about a young mother who was living in potential danger from her violent partner returning from prison. She had been told her baby and child would be removed from the family home if he returned as there was certain danger to life. The young mother knew she must not have her partner back and yet there was a part of her that felt she still loved him - a pull to continue the relationship. She knew that with professional help she could overcome this pull and do what was right for herself and her children. Unfortunately because of where she lived she could not find this help. Her doctors surgery could not offer counselling at that time, and there was no free counselling in her area. She could not afford the cost of private therapy. Eventually this young mother was saying to her support workers 'my baby is going to have to be taken away'.
Linda had already realised there was a need for an accessible, affordable therapy and counselling service during her work through Home-Start, and Fairstead Community House, but it was this story that gave the final push for the Sunshine Project to be started. A business course to find the cheapest way to set up and run the Project, enabled costs to be kept as low as possible for the client. Sunshine Project is committed to accommodating people who wish to receive therapy and counselling and have difficulty in accessing these services. This has been further achieved through working in the home, in local venues in or near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, and by telephone or internet to reach those further afield
The young mother did find help through Sunshine Project and today is living a happy life with her children.
Linda is a Cognitive Therapist with a Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling. She specializes in abuse counselling and domestic violence. She worked as Fairstead Community Counsellor for 6 years, and now receives referrals from local doctors surgeries, and mental health and support agencies, but anyone can refer themselves, and is welcome to telephone or email to talk about a problem and how they would like to be helped.
Relationship Problems (individual, couple or family)
Communication
Depression
Anxiety and Stress
Domestic Violence
Abuse ( emotional, physical, sexual, verbal )
Self-harming
Loss and Bereavement
Confidence Issues
Anger Management
Working with ex-offenders
