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.

The cost of therapy is £25 per session. The cost of a home visit depends on the location. If money is still a problem you can spread the cost by having your sessions less frequently than every week, or you can have half hour sessions at half the cost. (half hour sessions are not available for home visits)

Telephone counselling is a counselling/therapy session for up to one hour

Email counselling/therapy includes 5 main emails from the therapist ( not counting those where a question is asked for instance)

There is also the option of live one to one internet counselling via msn, each session lasting up to one hour

All the above 3 options are payable in advance ( via paypal, or cheque/postal order to the Sunshine Project PO Box 1112 Kings Lynn PE30 5WS) at a rate of £20 per hour

No Paypal account neccessary, you can pay by Credit card or Debit card.

Some of the problems Sunshine Project currently deals with:

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