Youth Support Services
Who are the services for?
All 13-19 year olds who live, learn or earn in Kingston. Some services do offer support from 8 years old.
What is on offer?
Youth Support Services aim to give all young people who live, learn or earn in Kingston the chance of a positive future by helping them to:
- learn in ways that motivates and enables them to achieve
- engage in positive activities
- make informed choices about their lives, and
- benefit from targeted support before problems intensify
The services we offer are split into 3 groups:
Services for all young people (Universal Services)
Youth Service
Kingston Youth Support Service aims to empower and optimise the potential of young people between the ages of 11-19. This achieved through a range of work in youth centres, street-based youth work and specific projects. Young people are offered a range of opportunities to learn, gain knowledge and skills, volunteer and become active citizens in their community.
Teenage Advice and Guidance Service (TAGS)
TAGS is a service for young people aged 13-19 who are educated, live or work in Kingston, offering information and guidance in a confidential, relaxed and friendly atmosphere given by experienced youth workers. Drop in aboard the YoungLivin’ Bus in Kingston Town Centre outside JD Sports/Accessorize on Tuesdays 3.30-6pm or the first and third Saturdays of the month from 12-3pm.
14-19 Education, Employment and Skills
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, its schools and post 16 providers have made a public quality commitment that all young people be supported to achieve key educational milestones which have been demonstrated to have a substantial impact on young people’s future employability, prospects and life chances. As part of this commitment, the providers, with the support of the local authority, will ensure that any young person who decides to leave a learning programme early, is offered an appropriate alternative placement in Kingston. A prospectus of skills training courses is available at www.kingston.gov.uk/14-19_education
Targeted Services
The Targeted Youth Support Team
The Targeted Youth Support Team is a multi disciplinary team who work with young people experiencing persistent problems. They provide support to young people at risk of anti social behaviour and offending or dropping out of school or college. They provide practical help to teenage parents and young people where there are significant concerns emerging.
The Targeted Youth Support Team provides tailor made packages of support to get young people back on track. Targeted Youth Support is mainly a voluntary service and anyone can refer a young person for support.
Who would benefit from support?
- A young person who is getting into trouble frequently at school or has been excluded
- A young person who is affected by relationship problems
- A young person using drugs or alcohol
- A young person involved in anti social behaviour or petty crime
- A young person who is a teenage parent or young mum to be
- A young person who is at risk of homelessness and family breakdown
- A young person who has a lack of self esteem and confidence
- A young person with emotional and/or communication problems
- A young person may have lower tier mental health issues
- A young person at risk of harm or abuse
How can you make a referral?
If you think a young person is at risk of harm or abuse please contact the Young People's Service for advice:
Telephone: 020 8547 6920
Email: young.people@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Where any of the other concerns are emerging about a young person anyone can make a referral as long as you have the consent of the young person. Where there are specific concerns about anti social or offending behaviour the parent’s or carers consent must also be sought.
What happens next?
Once a referral has been received by the Targeted Youth Support (TYS) team this will be presented at the TYS panel that meets weekly. The TYS panel will consider the referral and decide on a package of support that will best help the young person.
This may involve the allocation of a Rewind worker where there are specific issues about anti social behaviour or the allocation of a Targeted Adviser for Young People (formally known as Connexions Specialist Personal Advisers). The referrer will be contacted in writing to inform them of the panel’s decision.
The young person will be contacted by the appropriate worker and support will begin. This will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure it is helping the young person.
Teenage Pregnancy
We co-ordinate and promote services throughout the borough on relationships and sexual health, and we support teenage parents.
Specialist Services
Youth Offending Team
The Youth Offending Team forms the core team of the specialist services. The Youth Offending Team works exclusively with young people in the Youth Justice system to ensure swift administration of justice and to provide help and support in order to prevent first time offending and stop young people re-offending.
Supported Housing
Supported Housing provides accommodation for vulnerable young people aged 16-20 (including care leavers) to help them prepare for independent living.
Beverley House
Beverley House is a supported accommodation project for care leavers and other vulnerable young people aged 16-20. It provides 8 bedsitting spaces with private kitchen facilities and has a Supporting People Contract for 4 spaces. Beverley House also manages a number of flatshare properties in the Kingston area.
Beverley House Manager
140-142 Dukes Avenue
New Malden
Kingston upon Thames
KT3 4HR
Telephone:
020 8942 2090
Fassett Road
Fassett Road provides supported accommodation for young mums. For more information, or to refer someone to Fassett Road please contact
Support Worker
19 Fassett Road
Kingston
KT1 2TD
Telephone: