It’s Your Choice now in its 27th year is a local charity, supporting young people (12-25) who experience challenges – both big and small. We provide free and confidential comprehensive information, advice, guidance and counselling services across the whole of the New Forest area.
We have tremendous local knowledge and an extensive network to draw upon and run drop in services across the New Forest and Waterside area.
During the first quarter of this year our team of NEET advisers ran 125 Drop In advice sessions and supported 98 young people with information, advice and guidance. The referral routes to our NEET service were :
- Education
- GP Practices
- Hampshire County Council
- Children’s Centres
- Job Centre
- Friends & Family
- IYC
- Housing Support
During 2013 It’s Your Choice worked with 4000 young people in schools and Colleges including 1600 on a one to one basis.
Between April & June 2014 , IYC provided counselling to 38 young people over 120 sessions. Additionally, we provided 13 sessions of group counselling in connection with Self Harm to 9 young people. During this period 42 appointments for young people were made for Initial Assessment of their specific needs prior to being accepted on the Counselling Service waiting list.
The overall number of young people supported by the charity during the first quarter of the F/Y 2014/2015 was 398. This support was delivered by 13 staff (8.1 FTE) and 20 volunteers.
Our current core services include providing support around the following issues:
- Emotional Health & Wellbeing
- Sexual Health and Wellbeing
- Drug and Alcohol Misuse
- Housing Accommodation
- Employment, Education, and Training
In addition to the NEET drop ins, IYC provided 224 hours of drop in advice to young people during the quarter, supporting 177 young people, many on multiple occasions resulting in 519 recorded contacts.
Many of these services are provided by volunteers. They gave 720 hours of support during the first quarter of this year. Assuming an hourly rate of £12, this equates to a contribution of £34,500 for the year.
