Section 4.3 Support Services

Some potentially relevant types of support services could include those listed below. 

• Health services, including GPs and more specialist services – for young people who are experiencing difficulties with their health or wellbeing, including their mental health
• The GP is a good first place to go as they can provide help but also are often the referral route to other services too – some GP services also offer psychological therapies in the GP surgery
• More specialist NHS mental health services, including psychological therapies, can have a waiting list and sometimes this can be quite long
• Mental health support is usually available outside of the NHS in community services too, including from the local authority and charities – some of these may be drop-in style services and some may offer support through planned appointments

• Social services – for young people who are struggling with their housing, disability including learning disability
• Social services are offered by the local authority – typically children’s services support people aged 0-19 years (and adult services support 20 years plus), but this usually extends to 25 years for young people with additional needs
• Some of these services might be accessed through the GP and some may be directly accessible, e.g., through contacting them by telephone or email Social services may also work with charities or other partners to deliver support

• Sexual health services – for young people who would benefit from accessing information or support around sex and relationships, contraception, sexual health and pregnancy

• Employment services – for young people who would benefit from information or support around CV building and employment opportunities
• Some employment services will be available from national and local government, e.g., Job Centre Plus and support for NEET young people aged up to 18 or 19 years
• Charities and community services in your local area may offer additional support and including for young people aged 19 years and above

• Education services – for young people who would benefit from support to enter into education
• Some education services may be available from national and local government, and from local schools and colleges
• Charities and community services in your local area may offer addition education support, including for young people and for adults

• Charities – there may be lots of different local charities or other community organisations that offer some of the types of support mentioned above
• They may offer other types of support too, for example support for specific groups of people (e.g., LGBTQIA+), support for people who have specific conditions or disabilities (e.g., autistic people), or have experienced specific types of life events (e.g., domestic abuse).

Below, we have included some initial ideas about about local and national services that might be relevant. It will be helpful to talk to your supervisor about potentially relevant and helpful support services available to young people in your area.