March marks Women’s History Month, a time to recognise the women who shape our communities, workplaces and organisations every day. On the 8 March, we also marked International Women’s Day, with the theme Give to Gain. 

At Renew, we see every day how support, encouragement and opportunity can ripple outwards in powerful ways. We caught up with our Chief Executive Nikki Schuster to reflect on what Give to Gain means to her and why recognising women’s stories matters. 

Give to Gain suggests that when we give support to women, everyone benefits. How do you see this reflected at Renew?  

At Renew, we give space and time for people to talk through their difficulties. It’s widely recognised that the more under stress women are the more they’re having to juggle, this can make it harder for them to be resilient. There’s a lot of pressures in the world, especially as women’s rights are given and taken away so easily. It can therefore be hard as women to be who you want to be. This is why it’s so important that there are supportive spaces like Renew.  

How does Renew’s work benefit women? 

Renew is a very natural environment for women to come along and be listened to. I think this is seen directly through our work. We’re also acutely aware that part of our task is to be an open access service that provides the same service to anyone that needs it. Every day I work at Renew, I can see the transformative effects of what we do, not in what people give to us, but in what we see people give to themselves.   

What issues do you think disproportionately affect women, and how does Renew help? 

Relationship difficulties with control dynamics disproportionately affect women, and we see this in our work here. There’s recognition that abuse is a two-way street, but we do know that often, women are the victims of violence. At Renew, we see women trying to keep their head above water to succeed and support their family, emotionally and financially. Providing a space where women can find themselves is so important. Our services have a duty help women feel strong, empowering them to succeed in their lives in whatever form or shape that takes.  

Renew is a female-led organisation, what does that mean to you?  

When I first came into the workforce, it was a predominantly male place and women were seen mainly in subservient roles. Whilst it has taken a while, our wider society is slowly understanding and accepting what women are capable of. It can still be a challenge, but personally, as a woman in a leadership role at Renew, I feel safe in the knowledge that we can work to our strengths in a collaborative environment. 

During Women’s History Month, we’re reminded how powerful it can be when people offer their time, care and support to others. Often the act of giving creates space for growth, healing and connection. 

If you’re feeling unsure about where to turn or simply need someone to talk to, you’re welcome to reach out. Renew is an open access service and you don’t need a referral to access counselling. 

University Mental Health Day 2026: how can students take care of their mental health? 

University Mental Health Day aims to get the nation talking about student mental health. With two of our courses delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and one of our very own staff members currently completing her Degree Apprenticeship, we’re thinking about the importance of this day and how we can support students and their mental health. 

Digital Marketing Apprentice Uwineza gives us her reflections in this blog for University Mental Health Day. 

This year’s University Mental Health Day theme is Human Connection, which feels especially meaningful to me as both a student and someone working at Renew.  

University life has been such a transformative time for me, in more ways than one. While I’ve had  lots of new opportunities, lots of new pressures have come with them! That’s why it’s  easy to become overwhelmed by everything.  

As someone who works alongside getting a degree, I know that when important deadlines and financial pressures start to pile up, I often try to cope with everything alone. Working at Renew has shown me that something that might seem “little”, like opening up to someone about how I’m feeling or what I’m going through, can actually be incredibly important.  It makes such a difference to my mental wellbeing and is a great reminder that you don’t have to suffer in silence.  

Knowing where to start when you’re struggling can be hard, so here are some things that I find useful when trying to navigate this: 

• Talking to someone I trust 

• Taking small breaks from any academic pressure I’m feeling:  

• I usually go on a walk or take a moment to ground myself by doing something I like to do  

• Staying connected with others:   

• Becoming a committee member in my society has definitely helped me to stay connected with others, through attending events online and in-person, and just having that community to turn to! 

• Even a quick catch-up with friends can make the world of difference 

• Being kind to myself:  

• It’s important to know that struggling sometimes is okay. Treating myself with the same compassion that I’d offer a friend helps when I’m struggling. 

• Knowing that professional support is available! 

The staff at Renew understand that life can be challenging, especially during periods of change like university life. I’ve seen firsthand how the charity provides a safe, supportive space where people feel encouraged to be themselves.  

Through supportive conversations with trained counsellors, Renew helps people to reconnect with themselves. Human connection is at the heart of what the charity does. o. Talking to someone who is truly listening can lift some of that weight and remind you that you don’t have to face it alone, so I’d definitely encourage any students struggling to reach out.  

Renew is here for you 

Whether you’ve stayed at home or moved away for university, you don’t have to do it alone, I know that the counsellors and support staff here at Renew are so kind and approachable and will be here for you when you need them.  

Reaching out for support can be the first step toward feeling more connected and supported. 

We’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch with the Renew team to learn more about counselling or access support. Just email  info@renew.org.uk or call 01245 359353.  

Could You Help Guide Renew’s Next Chapter? 

For over 120 years, Renew Counselling and Training has been part of the fabric of Essex and East London. 

From our head office in Chelmsford and through our work across the county, we support children, young people and adults who need somewhere safe to untangle what they’re carrying: anxiety, trauma, loss, eating disorders, identity and many more challenges.  

Demand for our services has never been higher. 

Last year alone, we received hundreds of referrals. Schools are asking for more support but are short on funding. Waiting lists grow quickly. Families are reaching out earlier, and often in greater distress. 

Behind every counselling session, there are important strands that make our work possible: governance, safeguarding oversight, financial stewardship, strategic thinking, careful challenge and encouragement. 

That’s where our Trustees come in. 

Why Trustees Matter Here 

Being a Trustee at Renew isn’t about sitting quietly at the edge of a room. 

Our Board plays an active, thoughtful role in shaping how we grow sustainably, protect our clinical integrity and ensure that people who need support can access it. 

Trustees: 

• Offer strategic oversight and healthy challenge 

• Help us think long-term about sustainability and impact 

• Bring professional expertise that strengthens the charity 

• Champion our work within their networks and communities 

• Roll their sleeves up and help the executive team carry out the charity’s mission 

As we enter our next chapter, we’re looking to widen the skills and perspectives around the table. 

Who We’re Looking For 

We’d particularly welcome people with experience in: 

• Governance 

• Education 

• Marketing and communications 

• Health & Safety 

• Clinical mental health practice  

• Those with lived experience of mental health challenges/struggles/difficulties 

But more important than a job title is this:  

• You care about your local community. 

• You believe that access to high-quality mental health support matters. 

• You’re willing to give your time thoughtfully and consistently. 

What You’ll Gain 

Trustees often tell us that the role gives them: 

• A deeper understanding of how charities really work 

• The chance to use their skills for something tangible and local 

• The opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians and fellow board members 

• A sense of being part of something that genuinely changes lives 

This isn’t theoretical impact. It’s real people in real rooms, every week. 

Why Now? 

Mental health services nationally are stretched. Schools are under pressure. Families are navigating more complexity than ever. 

At the same time, there is huge strength in community. 

Renew exists because local people, over generations, have chosen to step forward and carry it. 

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could do something practical to help,” this might be it. 

How Do I Get Involved? 

Renew Counselling and Training is inviting new Trustees to join our Board as we enter our next chapter. Could you offer your time, ideas and hands-on support? 

 
Motivated by impact and community? We’d love to hear from you. 

Contact us by emailing info@renew.org.uk

Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026: why does community matter?

By Nikki Schuster, Chief Executive  

Eating disorders are often described as lonely. They thrive in secrecy and in shame. Many of the people I’ve worked with over the years have talked to me about feeling alone while living with an eating disorder. 

This Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the theme of community feels especially important, because it’s clear that recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. 

Why community matters  

As a therapist specialising in eating disorders, and through my work as an associate trainer with Beat, I’ve seen first-hand that while professional support matters deeply, it’s rarely enough on its own. 

At Renew Counselling and Training, we’ve worked hard to build an eating-disorder-aware service across the whole organisation. Our counsellors working with eating disorders receive specialist training, but just as importantly, so do our wider teams. It’s important to us that everyone knows how to spot early signs, respond with compassion and help people access support sooner. 

Early intervention 

Early intervention can be life-changing. Research shows there’s a critical early window when an eating disorder starts to emerge, where support can be especially effective. Getting help sooner is linked with stronger engagement with support services, less disruption to life and psychosocial functioning and a better foundation for longer-term wellbeing. 

Key to helping an individual access support earlier is the wider network around them: the people who notice changes, who ask gentle questions, who stay present even when things feel hard to talk about. 

Community shows up in ordinary ways 

Community doesn’t have to mean something big or formal. Often it’s quiet and ordinary. 

It might be a friend who checks in regularly; a parent who learns how to listen without rushing to fix; a teacher who notices a child withdrawing or a colleague who says, “You don’t seem yourself, I’m here if you want to talk.” 

These moments matter more than we realise. 

Eating disorders don’t just affect individuals. Their effects can be felt within families, friendships, classrooms and workplaces. In the same way, recovery is rarely a solo journey. People heal in relationship. They heal when they feel seen, understood and supported over time. 

At Renew, many of the children, young people and adults we work with tell us that our centres become part of their community. We’re proud to be a place where people can feel safe enough to start unpacking what’s really going on beneath the surface. That sense of belonging is powerful and creates the conditions for change. 

Supporting parents  

One of the most moving parts of this work, for me, has been sitting with parents and carers during our workshops and seeing just how much they want to understand. 

Before each session, we invite questions. They come in quietly and anonymously but they are anything but small: 

Parents ask about how to talk to a ten-year-old about body image without making it “a thing”. 
About boys and puberty, height, muscles and gym culture. 
About social media and TikTok. 
About food, sugar, and what feels like secret eating. 
About bullying. 
About self-harm and how to respond without shaming. 
About how to model healthy habits without passing on judgement. 

Reading those questions is so moving, because you can feel how much the parents, guardians and support networks for these young people care. Most parents don’t come with confidence or clear answers, they come because they’re worried about their child, they want to help, and they’re trying their best to get it right. A lot of them are also thinking about their own experiences growing up, and how they don’t want to repeat things or pass certain messages on. 

Just by showing up to a workshop, asking those questions and being open to learning already says so much. That desire to support their child matters more than they probably realise, especially when they’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed themselves. I think that is incredibly brave. 

Widening the circle of support 

Thanks to the support of The Prudence Trust and Stone Family Foundation, we’ve been able to widen this circle of support around young people struggling with food and eating. Being able to offer guidance, reassurance and practical support to parents, guardians and the people around the young person can have a huge impact on the individuals we work with. 

When adults feel supported and informed, the young person at the centre is far less alone. When carers feel supported rather than judged, they can respond with steadiness instead of panic. When we widen the circle of care, shame has less room to thrive. 

In the context of eating disorders, community is far from an abstract concept. I see the importance of community when I meet a parent at one of our workshops who is asking how to do better, or when our clinical coordinator chats to a family member who isn’t sure what to do next but wants to understand. Community is just people showing up for someone.  

Keeping the conversation going 

Sadly, not everyone has access to this kind of support, which is why awareness weeks like this matter. They give us permission to talk about eating disorders more openly. They remind us to look out for one another and they invite us all to play our part. 

This Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I hope we can all take a moment to notice the people around us a little more closely and to think about how we might help make our communities more compassionate, more knowledgeable and more supportive. 

If you’re worried about someone, you don’t need to have the perfect words and you certainly don’t need to be an expert. Simply letting them know they’re not alone is an important first step. 

And if you’re struggling yourself, please know that there are places like Renew that are here to help. Reaching out can feel daunting, but you don’t have to carry this on your own. 

Choosing to specialise in counselling children and young people is more than just a career – it’s about wanting to make a real difference in the lives of those still finding their way. It’s about providing a safe, understanding space where they can feel heard. But how do you know if this path is the right one for you?

At Renew Counselling and Training, we understand that choosing the right training is a deeply personal decision. You might already be working with young people in some capacity and wanting to expand your expertise, or perhaps you’re at the beginning of your journey, drawn to working with younger clients because you feel their voices deserve to be understood and respected. Whatever your background, our Diploma HE in Counselling (Child and Young Person) Person Centred is designed to meet you where you are and help you grow.

Is this course right for me?

Ask yourself:

• Do you feel passionate about supporting children and young people through life’s challenges?
• Are you curious about the specific needs and experiences of younger clients and how to tailor your approach to meet them?
• Are you keen to deepen your understanding of ethical considerations, safeguarding and best practices in working with this age group?
• Do you want to take part in specialised training that equips you to work confidently with children and young people?

If you find yourself nodding along to these questions, our Diploma could be exactly what you’re looking for.

What you can expect from the course

Our Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People offers:

• Modern, specialist clinical training in an authentic environment at Renew Counselling in Chelmsford.
• A focus on developing self-awareness and practical skills, through observed groups and reflective practice.
• Understanding of key areas, including child development, psychopathology, creative techniques, art materials and play.
• A placement from Year 3, totalling 150 clinical hours, providing practical, real-world experience.
• Development of BACP competences, enhancing your employability.

Ready to take the next step?

Choosing the right training is all about finding a course that resonates with your values and ambitions. If you’re ready to explore whether our Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People is the right fit for you, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

We’d love to chat to you about the Diploma. Leave your details here and we’ll make sure to send you more information.