Mayor Visits ACC to Support Community Wellbeing
After speaking at a number of events in 2025, James Davies, Director of Operations, invited Councillor Alan Butcher, Mayor of Littlehampton to visit Arun Counselling Centre (ACC) at Dove Lodge. The visit, which took place on Friday 20 February 2026, offered an opportunity to share how the charity supports local people and to explore the changing mental health needs within the Littlehampton community.
Following a short introduction, the Mayor toured the building, including our newly renovated counselling rooms where clients are welcomed each week. James outlined the Centre’s journey from its beginnings to the realities we face today, highlighting both the challenges and the opportunities ahead in meeting growing demand.
The second part of the visit brought together a cross section of counsellors and assessors, with Maggie Yarlett, Acting Head of Clinical Services, leading a discussion about what counselling looks like in practice and why it remains so vital locally. Conversations focused on the experiences of people in our community, emerging trends in mental health, and how services can continue to respond effectively.
The Mayor reaffirmed his support for community-based mental health provision and discussed potential local funding opportunities. The visit strengthened a shared commitment to ensuring that people in Littlehampton can access compassionate, professional support when they need it most.
James Davies, Director of Operations commented: ‘The Mayor showed genuine interest in our service and support for our work. He spent a great deal of time understanding more about how we support people, by chatting through how these sessions are delivered, with our Counsellors, who were able to talk through a typical client's journey. Importantly, the Mayor was also able to take away a better understanding of common themes in the community, based on common presenting issues for clients over the past couple of years.’
Collaboration sits at the heart of the third sector, and we are grateful for the continued recognition of the essential role charities play in supporting the wellbeing of our community.