02 August 2011
The Youth Enquiry Service (YES) has a new look website.
The relaunch is to help meet the high demand for information, advice and counselling services among 14-25 year olds in the Island.
The new website now includes a range of information that reflects the queries most frequently received from young people who use the service. Top of the list are housing and homelessness issues, money, employment and emotional health. The subjects covered range from moving out of home, to debt, relationships and what to expect at Parish Hall enquiries.
“When the YES Project was launched in September 2008 we had no idea it would be so popular but it has become extremely busy and we have had nearly 2,000 visits since then and provided 994 counselling sessions,” explained Vicki Twohig, the senior youth worker in charge of the project.
“As well as being able to come here in person, young people need access to information at any time so we’ve redesigned the website to make it more relevant, useful and appealing to them,” she added. “It means we will be able to reach more and more people, with the website acting as an important first point of contact.”
Young Islanders who feel they need help, information or advice on any subject can also drop in to the YES base at the La Motte Street Youth Centre in St Helier. One of the main services is a free, independent one-to-one counselling service and appointments can be made through the new website.
In future the website will also be used to promote issues that directly affect the target age group, including the young men’s condom campaign and the States register to vote campaign.
Visitors
- 324 young people have used the service (194 females and 130 males)
- those 324 clients have visited the service 1,934 times (most clients use the service more than once)
- 102 were aged 18 and under
- 222 were aged 18 and over
- 182 people have been referred to the 1:2:1 counselling service and those clients have attended 994 counselling appointments (most clients use the service more than once)
Comments:
“Thank you so much for helping me through a difficult time. I am now back on my feet and loving life. Thank you for all your help and putting me back on the right path.” Client - aged 22
“YES has everything you need and I would definitely recommend it to friends.” Client – aged 15
“Thank you for helping sort out my income support – I was so pleased to get the situation sorted and really appreciate your support to do this.” Client - aged 19
“I’m really pleased I found out about YES as there are no support groups for young gay men and I feel like I have somewhere I can go and feel comfortable to talk.” Client - aged 18
www.yes.je
gov.je