The work
Youth Access is the national membership organisation for youth information, advice and counselling services (YIACS). The organisation works with their members to provide a unified voice for the youth advice and counselling sector and support young people to campaign for transformational change to deliver the services and systems that meet their needs and fulfil their rights.
Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS)
YIACS routinely help young people from marginalised groups who might not otherwise be receiving support, including looked-after children, young people with experience of the criminal justice system, LGBTQ+ young people, refugees, and young people from BAME backgrounds.
Mental health policy
The organisation empowers young people to fight for their fundamental right to age-appropriate mental health support that meets their individual needs.
Advice and rights
The organisation campaigns for access to legal advice and the means to understand and stand up for rights to be recognised as a crucial part of local services for young people.
Covid-19 resource hub
As part of their response to the situation, they are collecting useful information and resources for YIACS managers, practitioners and young people.
Addressing racial injustice
As a national network committed to upholding the rights of young people, equality and non-discrimination are central to everything they do at Youth Access. That includes working to challenge systems of racial injustice, including in the mental health system.
Equal Access in Mind
The project aims to tackle rising mental health need amongst young women aged 16-25 by increasing access to high quality, gender-informed, young person-centred services in local com munities.
The project aims to provide targeted access through Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS) to psychological therapies, advice and groupwork interventions, particularly for young women from BAME backgrounds and/or with experience of violence or insecure housing.
