What's changing and what it means for you  This session aims to inform members about current national policy developments affecting youth provision, access the local impact of policy changes and equip members with tactical, action-oriented steps and resources for local engagement. The session will cover what is happening nationally and what impact this might have for members locally. We'll follow up the session with some valuable resources for you to use in your organisation. Join us on November 5th to be a part of our collective voice When: 9:00 -10:30 am, November 5th Where: via Zoom Led by Children and Young People Social Policy Specialist, Richard Crellin and Youth Access Policy and Campaigns Manager, Sarah Uncles This event is free for Youth Access members. If you are not a member but wish to attend the session, we have a non-member price of £40. 

We're excited to offer members the chance to attend a youth practitioner training session in collaboration with the Politics Project. The Politics Project will join us for an insightful session exploring ways to engage young people in all things democracy. The session aims to help you feel equipped to lead and facilitate conversations about democracy with your young people. In the session, we'll cover: Impartiality in navigating conversations on voting and General Elections Engaging with young people about their right to vote and the practicalities Activity ideas to encourage young people to explore their values and have their voices heard  If there is anything else you'd like us to cover specifically, please share your suggestions here. The training will be held online on February 27th from 12:00 to 13:30. We recommend the training for any staff members likely to explore topics surrounding politics and democracy with young people in the lead-up to the general election.  Sign up for tickets to register and receive our calendar invite. If you want to learn more, please get in touch with us at admin@youthaccess.org.uk or Sian at sian@thepoliticsproject.org.uk. 

Join Scott Lauchlan-Ford from our member organisation, 42nd Street, as he explores how they established their ‘digital’ offer by setting up an online element to their service. Scott has spent over a decade working with young people's mental health and, in recent years, developing and refining approaches to online support in collaboration with service users. He is passionate about supporting others to build relevant, accessible digital offers and building a national, robust evidence base around online interventions.  As 42nd Street begins work on the next iteration of a uniquely VCSE-owned online support platform, this workshop will explore what they have learned so far. During this session, we will look at:  The insights gathered from a comprehensive external evaluation The key components to consider around digital developments This online workshop is open to all staff members with and interest in supporting their organisations digital offering.   REGISTER

   We're extremely excited to invite you to our upcoming in-person event with members from across the UK this October     Are you aching for a youth advice and counselling event that will leave you feeling energized and inspired? Secure your spot at our in-person October Members event!  Our Member Meet is your chance to come together and reconnect with the national youth advice and counselling community in-person for the first time since Covid. With a dynamic lineup of speakers and engaging workshops, you will want to take advantage of every moment of the Member Meet 2023.  Enjoy catching up with colleagues and connecting with like-minded individuals who share your passion and drive for young people. The day will have plenty to stick your teeth into, including breakout sessions exploring:  - Youth-led change   - Local partnership challenges   - Developing equitable access We'll also be joined by our guest speaker, MBE and founder of Climbing Out, Kelda Wood. Take a look at our agenda for the day here. We're delighted to offer this opportunity and can't wait to see you all!   To help you join us, we're offering members financial support with transport costs. If you're a full Youth Access 2022/23 member, you can claim up to £50 per person* (max two persons per organisation) towards your transportation costs. To receive a reimbursement for your travel costs after the event, simply send an invoice to admin@youthaccess.org.uk. Offer valid on Member Meet tickets booked before October 6th 2023.   Please note that venue capacity is limited and a maximum of 2 staff members per organisation may attend. We recommend booking your places early to avoid disappointment!

Our CEO Network is a space for the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Service Chief Executives to meet informally   A year since its initial launch our CEO Network is now a lively community and a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, share learning and support each other. Give your morning a boost and join us online at our next CEO Network on September 7th. Step out of the day-to-day and enjoy some space to connect with the community. Register for a ticket to receive our calendar invite.   The CEO Network is free to attend with a Youth Access Membership. If you have any questions about membership, please contact our Membership and Business Support Officer Martha.

Join us online on July 18th from 12:00-13:30 for our next Evaluation Workshop with our resident expert and Evaluation & Impact Officer, Sarah Burrows. In this session, we'll be exploring research methods and design. What to expect Unlock the world of research methods Immerse yourself in the world of research methods. We'll empower you as we explore the different types methodologies to turbocharge your projects! Master the art of choosing Ever struggled to select the right research method for your work? Fear not! We've got your back. Discover the tips and tricks for pinpointing the perfect methodology that aligns with your objectives.  Make valuable connections Who says learning can't be fun? Connect with a vibrant community of professionals like yourself from fellow Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services. Make connections, share alternative research methods, and collaborate with members who understand your journey.    Sound good? Secure your space today! Sign up to receive our calendar invite and accompanying resources.   Our Evaluation Workshops take place quarterly via Zoom and cover a range of topics. If there's something you'd like to learn more about, don't hesitate to get in touch! 

The CEO Network The space for the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Service Chief Executives to connect This is your chance to come together informally, brew in hand, to meet fellow CEO’s from across the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling services. Step out of the day-to-day and take some time to share experiences and hopefully make valuable connections, share challenges and gain useful insights.   "This network is a brilliant opportunity to connect with colleagues across the country. We are facing many similar challenges, and this is a space to share learning and support each other. It would be great to see you there”   - Dan Mobbs, CEO of MAP Norfolk Please note that a Youth Access Membership is required to attend the CEO Network.  

Influencing your local system to do more for young people is a key way to make your organisation more sustainable and to ensure more young people get the help they need. Most of our members will be doing this in some form already - but as you know, it's rarely easy! We’ve put together a series of free online events to help you successfully advocate for your service and strategically influence your local decision-makers to make positive changes for young people. Each learning session will explore an important key theme and draw on the experiences of external speakers and fellow Youth Access members. Attendees will have the opportunity to share challenges, ask questions and will receive useful accompanying resources to be used in their work. Join our session on June 7th to explore: Young people taking the lead  Youth-led influencing that is empowering, creative and impactful  Wednesday 7th June 12:30-13:30 Sign up here    

The CEO Network The space for the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Service Chief Executives to connect This is your chance to come together informally, brew in hand, to meet fellow CEO’s from across the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling services. Step out of the day-to-day and take some time to share experiences and hopefully make valuable connections, share challenges and gain useful insights.     "This network is a brilliant opportunity to connect with colleagues across the country. We are facing many similar challenges, and this is a space to share learning and support each other. It would be great to see you there”   - Dan Mobbs, CEO of MAP Norfolk   Our fourth CEO Network will take place on April 8th 9:00-10:30am Tickets will be available in advance and the virtual meeting links will follow (via email) closer to the time. Please register for tickets and save the date in your calendar to be sure you don't miss out! Please note that a Youth Access Membership is required to attend our member events, including the CEO Network.  

Influencing your local system to do more for young people is a key way to make your organisation more sustainable and to ensure more young people get the help they need. Most of our members will be doing this in some form already - but as you know, it's rarely easy! We’ve put together a series of free online events to help you successfully advocate for your service and strategically influence your local decision-makers to make positive changes for young people. Each learning session will explore an important key theme and draw on the experiences of external speakers and fellow Youth Access members. Attendees will have the opportunity to share challenges, ask questions and will receive useful accompanying resources to be used in their work. Join our session on April 19th to explore: Strategic Influencing in your local area  Influencing your local leaders and stakeholders to make positive changes for young people  Sign up here 

The CEO Network The space for the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Service Chief Executives to connect This is your chance to come together informally, brew in hand, to meet fellow CEO’s from across the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling services. Step out of the day-to-day and take some time to share experiences and hopefully make valuable connections, share challenges and gain useful insights.     "This network is a brilliant opportunity to connect with colleagues across the country. We are facing many similar challenges, and this is a space to share learning and support each other. It would be great to see you there”   - Dan Mobbs, CEO of MAP Norfolk   Our third CEO Network will take place on February 8th 9:00-10:30am Tickets will be available in advance and the virtual meeting links will follow (via email) closer to the time. Please register for tickets and save the date in your calendar to be sure you don't miss out! Please note that a Youth Access Membership is required to attend our member events, including the CEO Network.  

Introducing the CEO Network The space for the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Service Chief Executives to connect This is your chance to come together informally, brew in hand, to meet fellow CEO’s from across the network of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling services. Step out of the day-to-day and take some time to share experiences and hopefully make valuable connections, share challenges and gain useful insights.     "This network is a brilliant opportunity to connect with colleagues across the country. We are facing many similar challenges, and this is a space to share learning and support each other. It would be great to see you there”   - Dan Mobbs, CEO of MAP Norfolk   Following our inaugural meeting in September, it has been decided that the CEO Networks will take place quarterly. Our second CEO Network will take place on December 8th 9:00-10:30am. Please register for tickets and save the date in your calendar to be sure you don't miss a session! Tickets will be available well in advance and the virtual meeting links will follow (via email) closer to the time.  Please note that a Youth Access Membership is required to attend our member events, including the CEO Network.  

The cost of living crisis is affecting many young people and the services they rely on. Join us for an in-depth discussion, alongside guest speakers and funders at our Cost of Living Crisis webinar.   Our second webinar is approaching and will explore an issue at the top of many people's agendas: the cost of living crisis. We will be joined by guest speakers and funders from MAP, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Youth Futures Foundation, for an in-depth discussion on the current cost of living crisis. The webinar will take place via Zoom on November 24th from 10:00-12:00. The session will be a space for you to: give insights into the current landscape provide you with opportunities to connect with other members who are experiencing similar challenges explore the impact that the cost of living crisis is having on young people discuss the impact of this crisis on you and other members, and what it means for you going forward  This webinar will be the second in our series of events, and is offered exclusively to full members. Virtual meeting links will be sent to all attendees via email ahead of the event. Key details: Date: 10:00-12:00 Thursday 24th November Where: Online (Zoom) Who: This webinar is only accessible to Youth Access full members  How: Tickets are free for all staff from member organisations If you're having difficulties logging in to get tickets please sign up here http://ow.ly/9NVf50LsQfq

Join us for an introduction to Youth Access.  We've been busily beavering away behind the scenes for over a year now to ensure we are creating an inclusive and useful community for our members.  We've been building this new website, creating a new organisational strategy, and developing a clear and exciting member offer to ensure you are getting the very best out of our network - and we can't wait to tell you all about it! But, more importantly, we're excited to hear from you! That's why we are putting together a series of webinars over the coming months. As well as sharing our vision with you, we want to know more about what you'd like to see more of from us.   This first webinar will be a space for us to:  talk all things membership update you on our new strategic vision and goals introduce you to the Youth Access Team   Key details: Date: 10:00 - 11:00 Thursday 20th October Where: Online via Zoom (you will receive a Zoom link closer to the time) Who: This will be the only webinar in the series to be accessible to all Youth Access members 

** Once your attendance is confirmed, we will send details on how to access the online meeting room ** Over the past few years, we have been supporting a network of young 'Rights Advocates’ across the country as part of the Our Minds Our Future campaign – a youth-led campaign fighting for a mental health system that meets young people’s human rights.   Through bringing together young people who are passionate about raising a collective voice - at both the local and national level - we have developed the ‘Our Minds Our Future’ manifesto and continue to learn a lot through the training & campaigning that we have been doing with young people to drive forward this vision in their local areas.  Now, we want to work with our members to figure out how best to use our skills and insights as a national body to bolster your local campaigning efforts, and how all of your local young activists could feed into a bigger collective with national impact.  On Thursday 22nd April 10-11:30am we are holding a workshop that will entail:  An explainer of our youth-led campaigning at Youth Access so far and how we have been supporting young people to lead change.   A discussion about where we, as a collective, should take this next - focusing on how we can marry up the national insight and access to influencing spaces that Youth Access has, with the local infrastructure, community understanding & reach that our members have.  Beyond this session, we're hoping to convene a learning collaborative of Youth Access staff, members (and maybe young leaders, too) who are supporting young people/peers to influence change locally, so that we can exchange ideas, tools, challenges and opportunities across a national network. Who should attend?  Members that are interested in supporting young people to lead change in the mental health system  Staff who work directly with young people on participation and social action  How do I attend? If you would like to attend, simply click "Get Tickets" below and complete the steps to register. Once your attendance is confirmed, we will send details on how to access the online meeting room.