Our History

In September 1996 Sr. Christina Goodman, Rev. Stewart Morris, and Mrs Heather Brown founded Living Life Voluntary Counselling Centre in Bray. A premises was provided by the Methodist Church and a steady stream of local men and women began to receive counselling from professionals who offered their services on a voluntary basis. In 2001, a new centre was opened in Dun Laoghaire to cater for the growing demand for low-cost counselling in the region.

The possibility of joining the FAS-sponsored Social Economy Programme was proposed to the Board of Living Life in early 2002. Incorporation as a separate legal entity (in this case a company limited by guarantee) was a prerequisite of receiving funding through this programme and this took place in May 2002. The Living Life Voluntary Counselling Centre Limited began a new life as a Social Economy Enterprise with effect from the 26th of August 2002. Charitable status was granted in February 2004 (No. CHY15284).

In September 2006 Living Life celebrated its tenth anniversary. The Centre invited President Mary McAleese to join the celebrations as guest of honour, an invitation which to our delight she accepted. In September 2016 Living Life celebrated its twentieth anniversary. The Centre invited Minister Simon Harris to join the celebrations, an invitation which to our delight he accepted.

Over time Living Life became aware of the lack of counselling services in the Arklow area. Consequently, when an opportunity became available to open a small service in the town the Centre did not hesitate, commencing a small satellite service there in the spring of 2004.

2021 was an important milestone for LLC as we celebrated 25 years of the service. Due to the limitations imposed by Covid we celebrated by having a small event, in September, at our Centre in Bray and were delighted to have all three of our original founders, Sr. Christina Goodman, Rev. Stewart Morris, and Mrs Heather Brown, celebrate with us. We also had our Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, some of our past and current volunteers, staff, board members and clients. It was a lovely celebration and key reminder of the value of the service provided by LLC to the Wicklow communities over the past 25 years.

Our work would not be possible without the generous support we receive from:

  • Department of Rural & Community Development & Pobal through the Community Services Programme
  • Bray Local Drugs Task Force
  • East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force
  • Túsla (Child and Family Agency)
  • Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime

Client Testimonials