HYCS Celebrates a Week of National Recognition
Five-year renewal of accreditation and a commendation
Patricia David was one of the runners up for the BACP Lifetime Achievement Award
October 12, 2026
Hounslow Youth Counselling Service (HYCS) is celebrating a week of national recognition after securing a further five years of Service Accreditation from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
The renewed accreditation, awarded with high commendation from professional assessors, arrives in the same week that HYCS’s former Head of Service, Patricia David, was shortlisted for the BACP Lifetime Achievement Award at the national BACP Member Event on 10 October although she didn't win the award on the night..
For HYCS, which has provided free, confidential counselling to young people in Hounslow for 39 years, the dual recognition represents a powerful endorsement of its professional standards, governance and long-standing commitment to high-quality youth mental health support.
BACP is the UK’s leading professional body for counselling and psychotherapy. Its Service Accreditation scheme is widely regarded as one of the most demanding quality benchmarks in the sector, requiring organisations to demonstrate accountability, ethical practice, robust management and responsiveness to client needs. Services must submit detailed evidence across areas including safeguarding, equality and inclusion, health and safety, professional conduct, evaluation, and client feedback.
HYCS’s application received high commendation, with assessors praising the clarity and depth of the submission and the strength of the supporting evidence. In their report, assessors noted that “Hounslow Youth Counselling Service continues to offer a grounded, professional service,” highlighting the organisation’s “wealth of policies and procedures to support staff and clients alike.” They further commended the thoroughness of HYCS’s responses throughout the assessment.
The accreditation news coincided with national recognition for Patricia David, who led HYCS for three decades before retiring in 2025. Her shortlisting for the BACP Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges her significant contribution to youth mental health in Hounslow and her role in shaping HYCS into a respected, professionally grounded service. The award category honours individuals who have made exceptional and sustained contributions to counselling and psychotherapy.
Petra Raccani, Acting Chair of Trustees at HYCS, said the renewed accreditation reinforces the trust placed in the organisation by funders, sponsors and community partners.
“We are immensely proud that HYCS has secured a further five years of BACP Service Accreditation, with high commendation from the assessors. This independent recognition demonstrates the professionalism, robust governance and commitment to quality that underpin our service.
“This national recognition further reinforces the confidence that our funders, sponsors and community partners continue to place in HYCS. It provides independent confirmation of the quality and professionalism of our service and underlines the value of their continued support in helping us provide vital counselling for young people in Hounslow.
“We are of course also delighted that Patricia’s 30 years of dedicated service to HYCS and the young people of the London Borough of Hounslow have been recognised through her shortlisting for the BACP Lifetime Achievement Award. Her contribution has been significant, and we are proud to celebrate this recognition alongside our accreditation news.”
As HYCS approaches its 40th anniversary, the renewed accreditation provides a strong foundation for the future.
HYCS, based in Isleworth, has supported more than 16,000 young people over its 39-year history, delivering over 156,000 counselling sessions to those living, working or studying in the London Borough of Hounslow.
For more information about HYCS, visit www.hycscounselling.co.uk.
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