Youth Access – for young people's information, advice and counselling

In this section

Also of interest

No pages meet the criteria

Member Profile: The Bridge Doncaster - 'a great place to come'

19 January, 2010

The Bridge has been offering information, advice, counselling and other support to the young people of Doncaster since November 2005. In order to meet service users' wide range of needs The Bridge offers a very broad range of services, available six days each week, via drop in, 1 to 1 support, group work and counselling sessions. Drop in services include:

Access to ICT
sexual health services
hygiene facilities
help with legal worries (housing, law, money, discrimination)
help with relationship difficulties (esteem, confidence, anger management)
help with other health problems (stress, anxiety, substance misuse)
employment advice (CV's, job searching, personal development and awards).

In addition, The Bridge run a variety of courses, including parenting skills, the roles of men and women in today's society and alcohol awareness.

User group
The Bridge's User Group is an opportunity for young people themselves to inform and improve on how The Bridge delivers its services. The group consists of young people who meet weekly to deliver peer education and to help to shape the IAG service.

The Bridge in figures:

From April 2009 to date there have been:

2603 attendances
794 for 1 to 1 support
158 for counselling
669 for group work
891 attendances at drop in sessions
Young People have received 336 in-house certificates of achievement and 14 nationally recognised awards.

Praise for The Bridge
How does the Bridge help? In the words of just a few of the young people, families and professionals involved with the service:
"It's made my life much easier."
"My confidence has grown."
"It's helped me re-evaluate my experiences and improve my life"
"it's made me a happier person."

The Bridge and Youth Access:
The Bridge, along with 2 other Youth Access members, has been involved in piloting the new Quality Standard which is being developed as part of the Working Together for Advice Project. Through this Pamela Verma, YA's Advice Services Development Officer, has got to know the project and its employees well, and says:

'The Bridge has fantastic facilities that are discreet but easily accessible to young people and very welcoming. I have really enjoyed working with Emma who is full of enthusiasm and always on the ball. My colleague Helen and I delivered a learning set in the autumn on good practice in Case Recording which all the staff team attended. It was great to meet such a committed staff team who are keen to get the best outcomes for young people.'

The Bridge is committed to its relationship with YA and appreciates the benefits that membership brings. Emma McDonagh, The Bridge's senior IAG Worker says:

'Being a Youth Access Member helps us to keep up to date with national agendas, provides ideas to develop service delivery, supports the development of staff and is an essential source of support and information. Membership also gives young people and staff a voice about the role of welfare based IAG in helping to meet all young people's needs and ensures our IAG identity is maintained.'

Contact details for the Bridge

Youth Access members: we would like to profile your agency. Get in touch to arrange this!