Pregnancy Choices Swindon (PCS) is one of the mission partners St John’s supports. They recently sent us an update about their work.
PCS see clients who have unplanned pregnancies, or who are struggling after a miscarriage or abortion. With these baby–loss clients, they have a 10-step guided programme. Referrals come from
GPs, health care providers, GWH or through their website. The service is free of charge and is offered to women, their partners, and other family members. Some clients have more complex mental health needs, and need signposting on for further help.
PCS have an office and counselling rooms at the Health Hydro in Milton Road, 4 trained advisors, all volunteers, and one paid Centre Manager who works 3 hours a week. During lockdown, counselling switched from face to face to telephone or zoom. They have recently begun seeing clients face to face again. In the last two years they have seen 34 clients in 164 sessions.
Here is some recent client feedback:
I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone at PCS. The care that I have received from you in the last 6 months has been head and shoulders, above and beyond anything that I have received from any other care provider. Without the talking therapy that I have received, I have no doubt that I would still be thinking about my miscarriage experiences in a destructive and wholly negative way. I am now able to process, accept and move forwards from what has happened.
PCS thank God for his faithfulness towards them over the years, and especially for the support given from St John’s. They would like us to pray for:
- New premises, maybe shared with other Christian agencies, which is more suitable for their needs.
- People to volunteer and be trained as advisors or in a trustee role.
- More churches to support us in our work – not necessarily financial, but with prayer and encouragement.