Youth Service
Introduction
The Youth Service is there to support your move from childhood
to adulthood. So, if you are between the ages of 11-25, you
can access the Youth Service!
So what can the Youth Service offer you?
- Improved self-confidence and self-esteem.
- Personal values, qualities and attitudes.
- Responsibility for yourself, to peers and to the
community.
- Increased knowledge, understanding and skills.
- Experiences and opportunities.
- Approaches to a healthy lifestyle.
Visit the Your
Space website, where you can find information about local
youth centres, clubs and wings and get details about
activities that are available from the Connexions service,
Millennium Volunteers, Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, Youth Arts,
and much more.
Youth clubs and projects
West Sussex Youth Services offers a wide range of things to do
and places to go for young people aged 13-19 years old, all of
which can be enjoyed out of school hours.
Through youth workers, young people can plan and organise
different activities. These could include arts, sports, trips out,
music and of course a space to meet friends. Youth workers will
provide opportunities for you to try new activities and can
organise residentials, youth forums, and offer advice and
information on most teenage topics.
A full list of all our youth centres can be found by searching
under 'youth centres/wings' (set filter to 'By type') on
our Search West Sussex schools and
establishments page.
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Connexions and information shops
The Connexions Service is our information, advice and guidance
arm. It provides personal development opportunities and can offer
help on subjects like careers, education and qualifications.
We also have an intensive support team who work with the most
vulnerable and disaffected young people. This service can be
accessed at schools, Connexions centres, and through outreach work.
More information about Connexions is available on the Your Space website.
We have information shops in Shoreham, Worthing, Bognor,
Chichester, Burgess Hill, Horsham and Crawley where teenagers can
seek advice, information and support on a wide range of issues.
Health workers also provide confidential services at these centres
including sexual health clinics, counselling and advice on your
nearest health services. Housing advice is available and links with
your local housing agencies will help if you are experiencing
difficulties. Information
shop details are listed on the Your Space website.
Youth offending
The primary function of this service is to prevent re-offending
by young people aged 10-17. The Youth Offending Service has been
established since 2000 and works in partnership with Children's
Services, Sussex Police, NHS West Sussex, prisons, courts, and
voluntary groups. More information is available under our social
care youth offending pages.
Review
West Sussex County Council is currently undertaking to transform
youth services. What will emerge is a more joined-up approach to
helping young people reach their full potential, with an
‘Integrated Youth Support and Development Service’ that combines
the Youth Service, Connexions and the Youth Offending Service.
We need the help of partners and stakeholders to develop
different models for delivering these services. In particular, we
are seeking greater involvement of voluntary and community
organisations/groups.
More details about the review will be added as we have them.
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Youth offer
West Sussex youth services are in the process
of developing a youth offer. Essentially, this is a statement of
intent made by the County Council in regards to the provision of
activities for young people.
The youth offer is not just about County
Council provision. It should include all types of services provided
for young people by organisations working in all sectors in West
Sussex.
Principles
The youth offer should empower young people to
bring about change for themselves and for others. They will be
supported in doing this and the following key principles adhered
to:
- content for the activities should be
negotiated;
- young people’s participation should be
voluntary; and
- young people’s involvement should be without
stigma.
Being flexible
We would like youth provision, and therefore
the youth offer, to reflect a flexible style of intervention.
Services for young people should be ‘out of hours’ and in their own
communities.
We will also consider the following:
- Professionals should be able to mix and match
the methods they use to respond to young people’s changing needs
and interests.
- There should be a balance between targeted
and universal provision.
- The breadth and range of activities should
offer a wide range of differing opportunities.
- Promoting young people, their voice and
influence – towards them becoming users and creators of the
services they need.
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Supporting documents