Ashford Counselling Service (ACS) was formed in 1987, as part of a collective plan to provide high quality and affordable counselling in the Ashford area. Its current premises in Church Road, Willesborough, was purchased in 1996 after a successful lottery grant bid. The centre is named after Paul Bower, who initiated the lottery bid and worked tirelessly to develop and expand the service until his death in 1996.
ACS has grown steadily since then. It now engages around 20 volunteer counsellors, three clinical supervisors, a clinical manager, a business manager and an administrator. From 1998 student counsellors have been recruited to undertake placements as part of their training towards a Diploma qualification.
ACS is a registered charity (803387), and is listed as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its annual accounts are available on the Charity Commission Website. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, including a Chairman and a Treasurer.
The service is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and it abides by their code of ethics and practice.
Ashford Counselling Service 