Young people's advice
So you’ve got a problem that you don’t know how to deal with. You don’t want to talk to your mum about it, and your mates know next to nothing. Where can you go to get some proper advice?
Option 1 - Information, advice and counselling services
Being young is not as easy as it looks and the problems young people face can be very complex, often requiring some level of support as well as practical or legal help. This is one of the reasons that information, advice and counselling services, aimed specifically at assisting young people, have evolved to deal with the full range of issues under one roof. These services go by different names in different areas but are typically called things like Off The Record, Open Door, Information Shop for Young People, Drop In, Checkpoint, Under-25s Advice Centre or Youth Enquiry Service.
Typically, these agencies can provide information and advice to 13-25 year olds on pretty much anything, including housing, benefits, debt, drugs and alcohol, sexual health, relationships, bullying and careers. They may also provide a number of specialist services, such as therapeutic counselling or housing support, or projects targeting young mothers, young carers or asylum seekers. All are completely confidential, and you usually just turn up to a drop-in session or make an appointment yourself.
Youth Access, the national membership organisation for youth information, advice and counselling services, can put you in touch with your nearest agency (Tel: 020 8772 9900).
Option 2 - Connexions
Connexions is a Government initiative providing 13-19 year olds in England with information, advice and guidance. They can help with any issue that may be affecting you at school, college, work or in your personal life. You can access the central Connexions Direct by web, email, text and telephone and they’ll even phone you back. Or you can go to one of the local Connexions centres which are opening throughout the country, where you can get the help of a Connexions Personal Adviser. Personal advisers are able to offer advice and support specifically tailored to you and can help you work out the best way to get to where you want to be. For further information about Connexions Direct and your nearest local Connexions centre call 080 800 13219 or check out their website (follow the 'Links to other websites' on the right).
Option 3 - Mainstream advice services
If you know that your problem is a legal one, i.e. it relates to your legal rights, you may prefer to go to a mainstream advice service that specialises in legal advice, such as a Citizens Advice Bureau, a Law Centre or a solicitor. Although they are not set up to work specifically with young people, they are able to provide you with expert advice and assistance. Different advice centres have different specialisms but if you need help with something they don’t include they will refer you to somewhere that does. A mainstream advice service may be a good bet if you need help dealing with benefits, housing, debt, employment or consumer rights.
Option 4 – Specific issue services
There are other sources of information and advice available to help you with specific problems or issues. For example, for advice relating to sexual health or contraception you could contact the Brook Advisory Service, exclusively for under 25s, or alternatively you could go to a family planning clinic. Similarly you can get information and advice about drugs from services like FRANK on the internet, using email, or over the phone.
Option 5 – Information sources
If you would prefer to try and sort the problem out on your own, or at least learn more about it before you talk to somebody else, you can get information over the internet from the comfort (and confidentiality) of your home, school, or library: TheSite and Youthinformation.com provide advice and information on almost every topic you could think of. advicenow.org.uk brings together the best information on the law and your rights from a range of advice and information services, including those specifically aimed at young people. Alternatively Childline has a website as well as a helpline that provides information on a range of more ‘emotional’ problems, from eating disorders to contraception.
And if all that fails....
If you still can’t find someone to help you with your problem then Get Connected is the answer. Get Connected is a free email and telephone helpline that helps young people find the service best suited to their needs. You explain your problem and they’ll explain your options and suggest services where you can get the best help. If you call Get Connected, they can then also provide a free connection to the service you have chosen (0808 808 4994).
The lowdown
All the services described above are free and nobody will charge you for getting some advice. If it is a serious legal problem and you require the representation of a solicitor, the solicitor will explain what the charges will be and if you are entitled to financial help.
They are confidential and nobody will know that you’ve used them unless you tell them. Phone calls to national youth services are usually free from a landline, including FRANK, Childline, Brooks Advisory Service, Get Connected and Connexions, so that they won’t even show up on your parent’s phone bill.
They are usually quite informal and you can be sure that the advice you’re being given wasn’t just plucked out of thin air. If an adviser doesn’t know the best route to take he or she will help you to find out – unlike your mum or your mates, they won’t just bluff.
Your adviser will only be concerned with finding the best solution for you, their client, and won’t be concerned with helping anyone else like the council or the Government.
All agencies will treat you with respect, whatever your query. No-one is going to laugh at you.
If you want to know more about any of the advice services mentioned above follow the links to further information below, or use our postcode search to find the advice services nearest you.
