Hereward Rotary Club was given an inspiring presentation from its chosen charity last week. 

Eleanor Port-Burke joined Rotarians to discuss the Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre. 

Eleanor, who serves as the centre's founder and director, trained as an art therapist and counsellor and was working in the NHS before becoming frustrated by the fragmented service being offered to those with mental health problems.

In 2017 she set up CEAACC, an independent not-for-profit organisation aiming to provide integrated mental health support to local patients.

Eleanor stressed the value of including the creative arts in therapy for mental health issues by “adding creativity to counselling”.

The organisation began life in a single room and now has 12 staff including professional trainees and those on work experience placements.

More than 4000 people have benefitted from the service.

It accepts clients from within a sixty mile radius, half of them referred by local authorities with the rest private requests.

CEAACC works with children as young as three, with teenagers and with adults, providing the combination of therapies most suited to the individual.

It also works with local primary and secondary schools, providing well-being support, particularly to children adopted or in care.

Eleanor brought with her some examples of the art work produced by clients. 

The range and creativity of the work is remarkable and the centre is rightly proud of the results they achieve.

Eleanor explained that they needed to expand to meet demand and they want to take over the ground floor of their current building so that they have disabled access. 

Hereward Rotary Club plans to help CEAACC achieve this. 

The centre welcomes visitors on their open days and has exhibitions by local artists.