Youth Access

Member Profile: The Young People's Centre, Brighton and Hove

14 February, 2011

The Young People's Centre has its origins in a meeting that took place in the summer of 1982 in which fifteen people met for a conference on the increasing needs of young people and young adults in Brighton and Hove. Their aim was to set set up a youth advice and counselling service that would effectively address this demand. Working together with a local community development organisation (Impact) ‘Ask Here’ was established. 28 years later the project has evolved and developed into the YPC, a vibrant, multi-agency youth support centre providing a stable, nurturing environment that supports young people in a holistic way.

The Vision:

The Young People's Centre’s vision is to provide an inspirational centre for vulnerable and marginalised young people, to support and empower them, so they are able to make positive changes to their lives and make informed life choices. It aims to provide a centre that is an accessible and safe place for young people to meet, access a range of services that meet their needs, develop their skills and broaden their horizons. In addition, they encourage and facilitate young people’s personal growth, awareness and progression and promote increased confidence, well-being, mental and emotional health. They do this by providing 3 Drop-In sessions each week, a free confidential Counselling service and specialist support workers.

What services do they offer?

YPC is a person centred environment, using action plans, goal setting and advocacy work through one-to-ones and open access sessions. Young people are involved in the design, development and delivery of their services. The project works with some of the most vulnerable people from across the city; those who access the YPC have critical levels of need, lead unstable and chaotic lives and have significant issues including mental health, depression and anxiety, learning difficulties, sofa surfing or living in hostels/temporary accommodation, are socially isolated, at risk of teenage pregnancy, estranged from their families, teenage parents, misusing alcohol or other substances, unemployed, and those who are NEET. Many have multiple needs.

YPC's Drop-In sessions include support, advice and information, affordable food, activities and games, a space that facilitates peer support and free access to computers and the internet. These sessions also include specialist one-to-one support for young people around mental health, sexual health, education, employment and training issues and are complimented by the counselling service. A range of informal education and learning opportunities for young people to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of employment, training and education and cooking and workshops in art, film and music are also offered. The aim is to develop young people’s ability to live independent healthy lives, to increase their life chances, self-esteem and confidence, to develop social skills, and to increase their chances of gaining employment and qualifications.

YPC also has a cafe that gives opportunities for young people who live isolated lives to eat socially with others.

The active Youth Forum/Committee contributes to the running of the centre and enables young people to participate in the centre’s development and direction.

In a universal sense YPC provides somewhere to go and something to do, supported by adults that young people can relate to.

Statistics:

In a typical year YPC can expect 1000 young people to access their services.

Last year the Young People’s Centre Drop-In had 2150 visits from nearly 600 young people, attending 149 sessions providing over 500 hours of delivery. Over 400 referrals were made to the counselling service during the year resulting in 90 young people being provided with counselling sessions. Over 100 young people were supported with employment, education and training issues and 110 were supported through focused sexual health and pregnancy work.

Summary:

The diversity, flexibility, responsiveness and can-do approach of the YPC is what makes their work effective. YPC's work is not easily categorised; the are not a day centre but fulfil a day centre role, they mentor, but are not a mentoring service, they are not a youth club but do youth work, all carried out in a centre that is a like a house but not a house.

IAG is at the core of their delivery but also offer a range of inter-connected complimentary services under one roof. Young people may attend for one service but end up being supported in numerous ways. Their work acts to fill the gap left by absent or chaotic families by providing a stable, nurturing environment. Through their person centred approach, young people's needs are of primary importance, resulting in an inclusive, friendly service that is supportive but also challenges in order to move young people forward and help them progress.

Go to The YPC's website     

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