Counselling Training Provider of the Year 2025/26

We were delighted to be named Counselling Training Provider of the Year 2025/26 in the North of England Prestige Awards.

The award was a wonderful recognition of the passion, care and belief that had shaped Training for Counsellors from the beginning.

When we opened our doors in 2023, we had a simple but powerful vision: to create counselling training that was collaborative, experiential, accessible and truly transformative. To receive recognition for that vision so early in our journey was an important moment for us.

The Prestige Awards celebrate businesses and individuals making a difference within their communities. Each nomination is reviewed using publicly available information, including reviews, testimonials, values, branding, website content and social media presence, alongside materials submitted during the application process.

When we were invited to apply, we were delighted to be considered alongside other organisations in the sector. Finding out that we had made the final five was already a cause for celebration. Discovering that we had won gave us an opportunity to recognise just how far Training for Counsellors had come since 2023.

Our founder, Samantha Crapnell, described the moment she heard the news:

“I felt emotional, proud, honoured and completely taken aback. To know that our work, our ethos and our passion had stood out among so many other providers was overwhelming, yet reassuring to know that what we were doing was making a difference in the counselling community.”

Sam attended the awards ceremony at the Village Hotel Leeds North alongside Linsey, Zara and Zoe.

Reflecting on the experience, Sam said:

“Holding that award, I felt the warmth and support of everyone who had been part of this journey. I was proud of our facilitators, assessors and the people working tirelessly behind the scenes, and grateful for every dedicated practitioner and organisation who had joined our courses and CPD sessions.”

In an interview with Prestige Awards, Sam and Linsey reflected on some of the milestones Training for Counsellors had already reached and their hopes for its continued development.

“This wasn’t just my moment; it was ours. This award belonged to our entire community — to everyone who believed in us and what we were doing.”

Training for Counsellors has always been built on connection, courage, curiosity and a shared commitment to making counselling training meaningful and accessible.

Through our qualifying courses, CPD, online learning and Counsellors’ Community Meet Ups, we continue to create learning opportunities designed not simply to provide information, but to support practitioners to integrate learning into their practice.

The award marked an important point in the early development of Training for Counsellors — and a chance to celebrate the people who had helped us get there.