A CHARITY concert will rake in much needed money for a counselling service that helps people deal with many of life’s issues from abuse to bereavement, trauma to redundancy.

The Mayor of Swindon, Rex Barnett, has chosen the Willows Counselling service as one of the three charities he is supporting during his year in office.

The variety concert in aid of his charities will be on Friday, January 21 at the Wyvern Theatre, in Swindon.

The show includes Pegasus Brass Band, Commonweal and Isambard school pupils and magician John Williams.

Also appearing will be pop and rock band Mr Love And Justice, Swindon Talent winners: Jade Wilkinson, Jahmene Douglas and Samantha Maybee; Swindon Dance Swindon Youth Dance Company and· Swindon Dance – Youth Dance Academy urban programme, Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts and classical singer Eleanor Williams.

The mayor chose The Willows because he wanted to make people aware of the sterling work of the charity. He said: “It is relatively unknown so we wanted to raise their profile and help them with a little cash.’’ The Willows is based in Prospect Place, Old Town, Swindon, and is open to all adults.

Many are referred by their doctors while others are simply seeking help or training.

The service was set up in 1989 as a training agency as a partnership between the District GP Committee and the Thamesdown Council Of Churches.

The Willows became a counselling service in 1995 and now deal with a range of issues, including anxiety, childhood sexual abuse and bereavement.

Mike Fisher, from The Willows, said the counsellors work through the issues with people and in most cases there is a good prognosis for complete recovery and a return to a good quality of life. Mike said: “Often it is the underlying stress that breaks up relationships.

“Disassociation with something that happened in childhood is a survival reaction to recover from trauma, children learn to do it and are not aware of the trauma until later in life.’’ The Willows is a charitable trust that relies on donations to survive.

“We couldn’t exist without the cash we are given from such causes as the mayor’s concert,’’ said Mike.

He said that the number of people needing help had soared because of the recession.

“Redundancies in particular have gone through the roof, stresses come to the surface and are not being dealt with leading to addiction, debt and relationship break-ups,’’ he said.

“Recovery means leading fulfilled lives.’’ For tickets to the Smile variety concert, which starts at 7.30pm, call 01793 524481 or visit www.wyverntheatre.org.uk.