For one service user, Ely Hero Awards’ chosen charity for this year has acted as “a lifeline”.

It is this lifeline that Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre (CEAACC) aims to provide to help tackle the stigma surrounding mental health.

CEAACC was founded by Eleanor Port-Burke who spoke about the mental health service at the Ely Heroes’ launch party on June 13.

Ely Standard: Eleanor Port-Burke, founder of Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre, at the Ely Hero Awards launch party 2022.Eleanor Port-Burke, founder of Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre, at the Ely Hero Awards launch party 2022. (Image: Adam Fairbrother)

As well as mental health support and therapeutic services, CEEAAC, based in Butchers Row, Ely, also provides expressive art therapies from drama to sand tray and writing.

The charity also received a letter from the Queen for its efforts.

A service user feels that CEAACC “always felt like more than just counselling, it was a genuine, caring environment” while another said the charity helped her daughter “move from the past”.

Ely Standard: Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre has been selected as Ely Hero Awards' chosen charity for 2022.Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre has been selected as Ely Hero Awards' chosen charity for 2022. (Image: Adam Fairbrother)

Ely Standard: Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre has been selected as Ely Hero Awards' chosen charity for 2022.Cambridgeshire Expressive Arts and Counselling Centre has been selected as Ely Hero Awards' chosen charity for 2022. (Image: Adam Fairbrother)CEAACC has grown from a team of one to 12 and has supported over 1,000 people in Ely, Cambridge and other local communities.

For more details on the Ely Hero Awards and to nominate, visit: https://www.elyheroawards.org.uk/nominate/.