Back in December 2011, with 5 year funding from the Big Lottery Fund, It’s Your Choice launched a new outreach project with the aim of improving overall support for young people in remote areas of the New Forest.

Specifically, we aimed to improve their:

physical & emotional wellbeing
access to mainstream & voluntary sector services
integration with the local community
health & social care employment opportunities through volunteering

What did we do?

Over the 5-year lifespan of the project, we delivered weekly information, advice and guidance (IAG) drop-ins all over the New Forest and delivered emotional health and wellbeing workshops in virtually all the secondary schools in the region. We also trained and supported young volunteers to work with young people.

What did we achieve?

Here are just a few ways in which we achieved the aims of the project:

2,332 young people accessed IAG on a wide range of emotional and practical issues, ranging from personal relationships and sexual health issues, to homelessness and serious mental health problems.
1,962 additional young people attended emotional health and well-being workshops at school, in the final year of the project, alone.
34 young volunteers received training and gained direct experience of supporting young people via our outreach services supporting 747 young people during the lifetime of the project. 10 of these young volunteers went on to find  permanent employment in related support services as a result of the training and experience we provided them with.

What next?

Although the Big Lottery funding has come to an end we are pleased to report it is our intention, with support from the local community, to maintain our outreach service via weekly drop-in sessions from April 2017 onwards. We are currently aiming to provide 6 drop in’s a week across the Forest.

Chris Carey, Chief Executive of IYC says:

‘What this project has shown is that – year on year – there is huge demand from young people for open access, weekly drop in support in the New Forest. Young people continually tell us they like to be able to access advice and guidance in this way rather than through formal appointments. They like the immediate response our staff and volunteers can provide to deal with their worries and anxieties. Drop in’s also act as a front door for young people experiencing more serious problems enabling It’s Your Choice to refer them into our other longer term support services or where necessary external specialist services.

It is vital we keep these weekly drop in’s going. We are hugely grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for supporting us in the last five years but now this funding has come to an end we need replacement funding. Donations from the local community  is what will enable us to carry on this important work so if you can help in anyway – however small the donation – we will be hugely grateful’

The post An update on our Outreach Service appeared first on It's Your Choice.

Here are 10 Tips to Beat Exam Stress:

1. Make a revision timetable (and stick to it!)
Making a revision timetable is well worth the effort, and it could possibly be one of the best things you ever do to prepare for your exams.

Sometimes our brains struggle to remember even simple things, such as deadlines and mental revision schedules, so it’s much better to get it down on paper. Whether you write it by hand or type it up a revision timetable will take the weight off of your short term memory, and you can focus on revision sessions around assignments and exams.

2. Don’t stay stuck indoors
The sun is shining and the birds are singing so don’t torture yourself by spending all day cooped up indoors. Make sure you allot some time to get outdoors and get some fresh air. Taking time away for a few minutes or a few hours can really do you the world of good. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel after some time outdoors.

3. Relax with friends or family
Deadlines don’t mean you can’t have a life! As well as making the time to get outside you should also plan plenty of downtime to socialise with your friends and family.

It’s easy to just tell everyone you’re busy, but an evening at the cinema or going shopping with your friends could really improve the quality of your revision. Good time management (see our point about a revision schedule) will help you be able to revise and socialise.

4. Know what you need to do
One of the biggest sources of exam stress is not knowing what you’ll be asked to do during the exam. The best thing to do is ASK.

It’s perfectly okay to ask for help and your teachers will be happy to help where they can. They won’t think you’re stupid or silly, and asking for clarification will show you’re an enthusiastic and passionate student.

5. Get moving
If you’re planning time to spend outside then consider combining that with some exercise and socialising. Exercise is proven to be one of the best stress busting activities.

Join a running club or exercise class – it might be time to try something you’ve never done before. You could even just go walking with a friend if organised exercise isn’t really your thing. Make regular plans to exercise and you’ll help develop your time management skills, as well as keeping your mind and body healthy.

6. Ditch the caffeine
Energy drinks are a student favourite, but replacing that energy drink with a big bottle of water will give you more sustainable energy and hydration, plus you’ll avoid the dreaded caffeine and sugar crashes. Also make sure you’re getting enough sleep so you don’t need energy drinks to keep you awake.

7. Learn to say no
Although it’s important to take time out and socialise, it’s also important to learn when to say no. The night before a coursework deadline or exam is not the time to be out and about with your friends. Save the partying for after your exam when you can afford to spend the next day doing nothing.

8. GET SOME SLEEP
We cannot say enough how important sleep is!

Your memory needs to be working at its peak performance to be at the top of your game for coursework and exams, so you need to be aiming for around 8 hours of sleep. Less than that and your stress levels will skyrocket. More sleep will also mean less need for caffeine (see our point about ditching the caffeine).

9. Don’t revise for hours
You won’t remember everything if you try to revise for hours on end, so take a 10 minute break every 50 minutes to refresh your brain.

This technique is used a lot by business professionals who have a “work smarter, not harder” approach. You’ll find you remember more and feel better about revision knowing when your breaks are going to be.

10. Work to your deadlines
It can seem like everything may seem like it’s due all at once but by keeping a diary and updated calendar you can keep track of deadlines. When you’re making your revision schedule, make a note of the deadlines you need to work to. Then you can prioritise which subjects need to be revised first.

The post 10 Tips to Beat Exam Stress appeared first on It's Your Choice.

The post Sexting – some facts and figures appeared first on It's Your Choice.

So, here’s what you need to know about “sexting”.

What is “sexting”?

Sexting means sending or receiving naked, sexual, or underwear pictures. These could be from a boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, or someone you met online.

You might also have sent a sexual photo, video, or text to someone else you know.

Sexting can happen easily, even if you didn’t mean for the conversation to turn out like that, and it’s important to remember that you should only send things you feel comfortable with.

Sexting – true or false?

• Sexting has consequences – true

You might think that sexting is harmless fun but it does have consequences, both emotionally and legally.

• Sexting is illegal – true

By sending an explicit image you are producing and distributing child abuse images. This means that you risk being prosecuted even if you gave your permission for the image to be taken and shared.

You can find more information about the legal consequences of sexting here: Sexting_The-Legal-Consequences.docx.

• Sexting leaves you out of control – true

It’s very easy to take and send a picture or video but once you’ve sent it you have no control over how it’s used. Those images could be stored, shared, saved, and copied by others, especially if they’re sent on social media.

You never know where the images will end up. Even if you delete them they’re never completely removed and they could be found in the future – for example, when you’re applying for a job or university.

• Sexting leaves you vulnerable – true

You may think that sexting is harmless but chances are there are people that you wouldn’t want to see the pictures. This leaves you open to bullying, blackmail, unwanted attention, emotional distress, and low self-esteem.

Who can help?

If you’re concerned about sexting, particularly if someone is asking you to share things you don’t feel comfortable with, there are plenty of organisations that can help.

• Childline – childline.org.uk
• CEOP – ceop.police.uk
• NSPCC – nspcc.org.uk
• Barnardo’s – barnardos.org.uk

You can also call our Freephone helpline on 0800 515 819 or come to one of our drop-in sessions.

The post Sexting – What You Need to Know appeared first on It's Your Choice.

When we’re under pressure we can experience a range of emotions including anxiety, frustration, and anger. Knowing how to deal with these feelings positively can improve your overall mental health and stop situations getting out of hand.

Here are our top tips for dealing with feelings of pressure in a positive way:

• Get enough sleep
• Join a self-help group
• Have counselling
• Chat to friends on the phone or in person about your feelings
• Recognise how you’re feeling and deal with it positively
• Get some anger management/anxiety training
• Get outside – fresh air and exercise is scientifically proven to help feelings of stress, anxiety, and pressure
• Start a new hobby
• Practice breathing exercises
• Step away from stimulants such as drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and sugary foods
• Go for a long walk
• Talk to other people in a similar situation
• End a harmful relationship
• Get back into education and use your brain
• Take some “me time” and relax with a book, magazine, film, or TV programme
• Accept yourself and how you feel – no one is perfect

Not sure where to start? We have trained staff that can help you recognise how you’re feeling and teach you different methods to deal with pressure positively.

You can call our main office on 023 8086 4231 for more information about our services.

The post Under Pressure? Here’s How to Deal with Pressure Positively! appeared first on It's Your Choice.

We all feel angry sometimes, it’s a perfectly natural emotion to feel, and it doesn’t have to be a problem.

However, it’s often how you express your anger that can have a negative impact on you and on those around you. We see many young people with anger management issues and one of the things we work on is how to express your anger constructively.

So, here are our top tips for dealing with your anger in a more positive way:

Deal with your anger immediately

Tackle your emotions as soon as you feel mildly irritated. You’ll find it harder to control yourself if you let it develop into anger.

Pay attention to your body

Our bodies give us physical clues about our emotions. For example, hunched shoulders or an increased heartrate can all happen when anger is building. Recognised those signs early on can help you deal with your emotions before they get out of hand.

Take away the stimulation

If you notice that you get angry when you drink alcohol, take drugs, drink fizzy drinks, or eat sugary foods – stop. Taking away the stimulation will make it easier to cope with your feelings. If you’re struggling to step away from drugs, alcohol, or other unhealthy habits, we can help.

Release your physical tension

Try beating the stuffing out of an old cushion, telling an empty chair how you feel, or going for a run.

Think and reflect

Take the time to think about the situation, what made you angry, how you reacted to your emotions, and how you might deal with similar situations differently in the future.

Feel the fear

Fear can hold you back from expressing your anger, but bottling up your emotions will make things worse. Tackle your fear and express your anger in a positive way.

If you need to talk to someone about how you’re feeling our trained staff are here to listen. You can call our main office on 023 8086 4231 to find out more information about all of our services.

The post Our Top 6 Tips for Dealing with Your Anger appeared first on It's Your Choice.

We’re here to help with any problems that you may be having. Click here for details of your nearest drop-in session.

Some problems you are having may seem like a mountain to overcome – we are the people who make that mountain look like a mole hill.

The post Are you having issues at home? appeared first on It's Your Choice.