Youth Counselling & Support Centre Case Study

Young Concern Trust

The project will create a youth counselling and support centre through renovating the building the charity currently has a 20 year lease for. The renovations will include creating training and therapy rooms, a second floor, offices, reception, kitchen, and toilets including a disabled toilet. The improvements to the building will enable the charity to provide more and better quality care to the young people living within the Harlow area.

If Young Concern Trust is successful with the People’s Millions it can then match the funding with promised support from the Fowler, Smith & Jones Trust and the charity’s own funds to refurbish the former Dashes Family Centre and establish a new Centre, and the charity will:
•Double the number of children and young people to 1,000 who can access counselling and therapeutic groupwork (including new projects to tackle teenage pregnancy and promote sexual health)
•Offer innovative and accessible e-counselling services
•Target counselling services at looked after children to enhance their self-esteem, confidence and aspirations
•Improve outcomes for children and young people in line with the Every Child Matters agenda: improving health, reducing inequalities and social exclusion
•Act as a hub for other children and young people’s services
•Expand the charity’s geographic coverage to neighbouring communities.

Former-Essex High Sheriff, Lady Diana Kemp-Welch is a co-founder of Young Concern Trust, which is now in its 21st year of operation, says:
“I remain convinced that there is, and that there will be an increasing demand for the charity’s services. We need a new youth counselling centre to enable us to broaden and increase what we do. Early intervention is vital to breaking the intergenerational cycle of under-achievement and social breakdown. Young Concern will be able to provide better services to children and young people, enabling them to turn their young lives around.”

Some key facts about Young Concern Trust:
•It is a small charity providing professional, free and confidential youth counselling services; many of whom are disadvantaged and have experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
•As a dynamic charity, working with almost 500 children and young people aged 11-25 every year, the aim is to contribute to their mental health, develop confidence and self-esteem.
•Counselling is provided on a one-to-one basis, in groups and often in local community settings including schools. Up to six sessions are provided at times to suit from Monday through to Saturdays, including evenings.
•Works in partnership with other local agencies: the PCT, local authorities, colleges and schools, the Connexions service and St Clare Hospice. The counselling team is fully qualified to help children and young people with: *bereavement *relationship*bullying*emotional difficulties*anger management and self-esteem problems.
•Recent evaluation (from a baseline of 72 clients) found that 93% said the counselling was useful, and believed their problems had been well understood by their counsellor, and claimed to be much better able to cope in their lives.
•Young Concern is a BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) Accredited service.

Project contact details

Young Concern Trust
Sewell House
349 The Hides
Harlow
Essex
CM20 3QY