£15,000 was donated in April 2025 to The Brain Charity, a charity that supports people with all forms of neurological conditions and their families, to lead healthier, happier lives.
Thanks to players of The Health Lottery, Counsellors from The Brain Charity were able to deliver 1,962 hours of support to people with neurological conditions who also have a mental health condition.
Having a neurological condition means you are twice as likely to have a mental health condition compared to the general population. Accessing counselling through the NHS can be a lengthy process with many waiting upwards of 12 months.
Who did the money help?
327 people living with neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, brain injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis) were supported with our grant. All the beneficiaries were adults, with ages ranging from 18 to 70. Participants were from across the North West including Manchester, Liverpool and Cumbria.
Key feedback from participants
The main benefits from the counselling are decreased levels of depression and anxiety.
- 77% of clients experienced significant decreases to their depression scores.
- 78% of clients experienced significant decreases to their anxiety scores.
One participant commented,
“I had sessions with a Counsellor, and it really changed the way I thought. I realised I was carrying a weight. It helped me turn negative thoughts into more positive ones. The sessions were useful. I was made up with it.”
We visited The Brain Charity in June 2025 and saw for ourselves the mix of social spaces, charity offices and counselling rooms onsite at their HQ in Liverpool. In addition, recently one of their volunteers, Rose, won a Local Legend award for her commitment to the charity.