In asserting young people’s right to locally accessible, free and impartial information, advice, counselling and support services, Youth Access believes services must:

• respect the dignity and self-worth of each young person
• respect and value individual differences
• recognise and be sensitive to the growing autonomy of each young person
• respect every young person’s right to be a voluntary participant in any helping process
• recognise the potential of each young person.

Youth Access promotes young people’s access to a national network of information, advice, counselling and support services providing flexible help in informal settings. We advocate the delivery of services within a framework of nationally agreed core principles, which Youth Access members agree to abide by in their work.

The Youth Access ‘Core Principles’, set out below, are also an integral part of the framework supporting our quality standards for young people’s information, advice, counselling and support services.

Youth Access’s ‘Statement of Core Principles’

• Young people are central to the service and member agencies are committed to responding to their needs.

• Member agencies believe that young people have a right of access to quality information, advice and counselling services.

• The basis on which young people are able to make use of a service is made clear to each of them individually and a contract is agreed where appropriate.

• Member agencies of Youth Access aim to empower young people and treat them with respect based on an understanding of their individual culture and background.

• In all aspects of their work, member agencies of Youth Access aim to counter the oppression and discrimination faced by young people.

• Member agencies of Youth Access are working towards equality of access for all young people for whom their service is designed.

• Member agencies of Youth Access take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and well being of young people and workers in an agency.

• Member agencies of Youth Access are committed to ensuring their workers are competent to perform the range and depth of duties offered by the agency and provide a framework for staff development that includes support, supervision and training.

• Member agencies of Youth Access are committed to establishing and maintaining procedures for monitoring and evaluating the service they provide.