The Counselling and Family Centre

What The Counselling and Family Centre does

The Counselling & Family Centre (CFC) is a registered charity (Company no. 07003266, Charity no. 1133079) founded in 1975 in Greater Manchester, England, providing accessible mental health counselling and wellbeing services across its three physical locations — Altrincham (headquarters, 40 Mayors Road), Bury (9 Parkhills Road), and Timperley (Broomwood Community Wellbeing Centre outreach via BlueSci) — with supplementary video and telephone delivery extending reach across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and the wider UK. Core services comprise individual adult counselling, children and young people counselling (including embedded school-based delivery), family counselling (up to five family members), and couples/relationship counselling, supported by a wellbeing division offering mindfulness groups, men's support group, community allotment, and social clubs, alongside parent-support programmes such as "Starting Strong" (for parents of children with SEND) and "I'm a Parent... Get me out of here!" A training arm delivers BACP-aligned CPD courses (£120–£695 per course) for counselling professionals and corporate/organisational mental health training. Multilingual counselling is offered in 11+ languages (Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Cantonese, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Bengali, Swedish, Shona). The technology layer is a Wix-hosted website with integrated course booking and payment processing, MailChimp for email newsletters, PayPal for donations, and a secure internal client management system — with no AI-mediated service components.

The business model is a hybrid charity funding structure combining subsidised client fees (sliding scale £10–£70 per session with fully-funded places for means-tested benefit recipients), training course fees, charitable donations, a monthly £2 lottery (50/50 For Hope), fundraising events (e.g., Evening of Hope gala), and grants/funding from charitable trusts and foundations (Pilgrim Trust, St. James's Place Charitable Foundation, Albert Gubay, Awards for All) and statutory partners (Trafford Council / Greater Manchester Family Hub, NHS mental health services waiting-list flow). Pricing is publicly disclosed across all tiers. Go-to-market is a hybrid of direct-to-consumer self-referral (phone, email, online booking), community-led referral partnerships (NHS, Pharmacist Support, schools, Trafford Family Hub App), and word-of-mouth driven by 50 years of community reputation. In 2025, CFC reported supporting 803 adults and 385 children, with 401 adults showing reliable clinical improvement, and generated £2,641,952 of verified social value from approximately £800,000 of organisational investment under the National TOMs Framework. Leadership comprises CEO Jo Allen (BEM 2025, 20+ years tenure) supported by a board chaired by Jonathan Moore, with clinical leadership from Penny Bullock and operational heads including Rukhsana Hemani (Clinical Services Manager) and Sarah Barker (Children's Services Manager).

Name

The Counselling and Family Centre

Legal name

The Counselling & Family Centre

Website

https://thecfc.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Counselling & Family Centre is a Greater Manchester registered charity founded in 1975, providing subsidised counselling (sliding scale £10–£70), wellbeing programmes, and CPD training for adults, children, families, and couples across its Altrincham, Bury, and outreach locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Counselling Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Assistance (624), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Couples & Family Therapy Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAG), School Counseling Services (Individual & Group) (EDAKAMAB), Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Mental health counselling
• Family therapy services
• Community wellbeing programmes
• Professional counselling training
• Charity mental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Altrincham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sliding Scale Counselling Fees: Counselling sessions priced from £10 to £70 depending on household income and financial circumstances. Fully-funded sessions available for those on means-tested benefits. Payment made at time of booking via online system, card, or cash.
2. Professional Training Courses: CPD and training courses for counselling professionals and related fields. Prices range from £120-£695 per course with early bird discounts available. Payment plans offered for multi-day courses.
3. Fundraising Events: Charity fundraising events including annual gala dinners (e.g., Evening of Hope at £30 per ticket). Revenue supports general charitable operations.
4. 50/50 For Hope Lottery: Monthly charitable lottery at £2 per month per number. Cash prizes drawn monthly with proceeds supporting counselling services.
5. Community Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and organisations to support reduced-cost counselling and wellbeing services for those who cannot afford standard fees.
6. Corporate and Public Sector Grants: Funding from charitable trusts, foundations, and government bodies including Albert Gubay, Pilgrim Trust, Peter Kershaw Trust, St. James's Place Charitable Foundation, and statutory funders for specific programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Counselling and Family Centre provides professional counselling services for adults, children/young people, families, and couples, delivered face-to-face, by video, and by telephone from centres in Altrincham and Bury. It also runs community wellbeing programmes, parent support courses, and accredited CPD training for counsellors and corporate clients. Fees operate on a sliding scale (£10–£70 per session) with fully-funded options for those on means-tested benefits, supplemented by charitable grants, donations, and training course revenue.

Product overview

The Counselling and Family Centre (CFC) operates as a registered charity providing a mental health and wellbeing hub from its centres in Altrincham and Bury, Greater Manchester. The core service portfolio centres on professional counselling offerings for Adults (Individual), Children and Young People, Families, and Couples, delivered face-to-face, by video, or telephone with a sliding-scale fee model (from £10 to £70 per session, with fully-funded options for eligible clients). Supporting the counselling services is a Wellbeing division offering mindfulness groups, community allotment, and social clubs, plus Parent Support programmes including 'I'm a Parent... Get me out of here!' and 'Starting Strong'. A Training arm provides professional CPD courses for counsellors (including six-day programmes on counselling children, families, and trauma) alongside corporate mental health training and public life-skills courses. All services and courses are bookable via a Wix-powered online shop and course booking platform. The organisation also runs community fundraising initiatives including a monthly 50/50 For Hope charity draw and annual events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Individual Counselling One-to-one counselling sessions for adults addressing anxiety, depression, relationship problems, grief, and personal challenges, available face-to-face, by video, or by telephone.
• Children and Young People Counselling Specialised counselling for children and adolescents using creative and age-appropriate therapeutic techniques to help young people express emotions and navigate challenges.
• Family Counselling Integrative counselling sessions for family groups (up to five members) focusing on improving communication, relationships, and dynamics within the family system.
• Couples and Relationship Counselling Therapeutic support for couples experiencing relationship difficulties, communication breakdowns, or seeking to strengthen their partnership.
• Counselling in Schools School-based counselling services providing mental health support to children and young people within educational settings across Greater Manchester.
• Wellbeing Services Community wellbeing offerings including mindfulness groups, stress and anxiety support, men's support group, community allotment, and social clubs for older people.
• Professional Counselling Training Courses Accredited continuing professional development courses for qualified and trainee counsellors covering working with children and young people, couples counselling, trauma, bereavement, and family therapy.
• Corporate and Organisation Training Mental health training and qualifications for organisations to support staff and volunteers' wellbeing, including Mental Health in the Workplace and custom corporate programmes.
• Community Room Hire Meeting and training room facilities available for hire at both Altrincham and Bury locations for external organisations and community groups.
• 50/50 For Hope Charity Draw Monthly charity lottery programme where participants pay £2 per month for the chance to win a cash prize while supporting CFC's counselling services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 803 adults supported through counselling, 385 children supported in schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Co-Co Operative (CIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFC partnered with Co-Co Operative to participate in testing and feedback for the MyPower App, a digital tool designed to enhance communication between children's social workers, families, and multi-agency professionals. The app supports shared goal-setting and aims to ease administrative burden for social workers.
• Pharmacist SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Pharmacist Support providing counselling services to pharmacy professionals. CFC also supports Pharmacist Support's Rebel Finance School initiative for financial wellbeing. 47% of Pharmacist Support calls relate to financial issues causing anxiety.
• BlueSci (Broomwood Centre)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroomwood Community Wellbeing Centre operated by BlueSci provides space for CFC to deliver face-to-face counselling sessions on Friday mornings. CFC accesses the venue through this partnership arrangement.
• Trafford Council / Greater Manchester Family HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFC is integrated into the Trafford Family Hub programme and Greater Manchester Family Hub App, providing parenting courses and counselling services. Supports parents in 75 different languages through the app.
• Centre for Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFC participated in Pilgrim Trust programme evaluated by Centre for Mental Health's Empowering Minds report, contributing data and insights on young women's mental health provision.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YoungMinds: UK charity focused on children and young people's mental health, including training for professionals and parents. Comparable to CFC's CYP counselling, parenting programmes, and professional CPD portfolio, though primarily a campaigning and information organisation rather than a counselling provider.
• Place2Be: UK charity providing school-based counselling and mental health support to children and young people. Directly comparable to CFC's school-based counselling service across Greater Manchester, with similar trained-counsellor-in-school delivery model.
• Relate: UK-wide charity delivering relationship, couples, and family counselling with a federated local-centre model. Highly comparable to CFC's couples and family counselling service line and sliding-scale fee approach, though operating at significantly greater national scale.

Regional players

• Trafford Family Hub / GMCA Family Services: Greater Manchester Combined Authority family support programme integrating parenting, mental health, and early-help services. CFC is a delivery partner in this network — comparable as a commissioning body and referral source for parenting and family support across the region.

Broad incumbents

• Cruse Bereavement Support: National bereavement charity with local hubs delivering grief counselling and training. Comparable to CFC's bereavement/grief counselling line ('Guiding Clients Through Grief' training) and sliding-scale volunteer-based delivery.
• Mind (National Association for Mental Health): Largest UK mental health charity with local federation delivering counselling, wellbeing, and information services. Overlaps with CFC's adult counselling, wellbeing groups, and Greater Manchester service area through local Mind branches.

Emerging players

• BetterHelp: Digital-native online counselling platform offering video, phone, and chat therapy at scale. Comparable as a competitor for CFC's video/telephone counselling line, representing the digital delivery model CFC does not currently operate at scale.
• Anxiety UK: UK charity providing therapy, support, and training focused specifically on anxiety. Comparable in offering therapy services and professional training relevant to CFC's anxiety-related adult counselling and CPD portfolio.
• Headspace: Global digital mental health platform combining guided mindfulness, therapy, and wellbeing content. Comparable to CFC's mindfulness groups, wellbeing courses, and digital delivery direction.

Others

• Counselling Directory: UK directory and information platform connecting clients with BACP-registered counsellors. Comparable as an ecosystem participant — driving client referrals to CFC-style local counselling services, and operating in the same BACP membership framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CFCALTY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-counselling-and-family-centre-cfc
• Instagraminstagram.com/counsellingfamilycentre/?hl=en
• Xx.com/cfc_alty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Counselling and Family Centre