A brand new service aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing of young people aged 13-19 has been launched by Chichester District Council.
The Chichester Youth Connections service was set up in direct response to the negative impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on young people. It supports young people who live or go to school in the Chichester District and who are looking for help with: loneliness and isolation, improving self-confidence, and making connections with other people. The team can also help young people find their next steps in education and employment.

As part of this service, young people can access six to eight individual sessions that are specifically tailored to help address the issues that are most important to them. Through practical advice and signposting, the team can connect individuals to the most appropriate support. This could include a counselling service; advice on careers, money or housing; or activities that could lead to a new interest, such as sports or the arts.

This comes at a time when the council has launched its Supporting You campaign, which aims to highlight the range of support offered by the council and its partners following the pandemic and during the current cost-of-living crisis. Details of this campaign can be found at: www.chichester.gov.uk/supportingyou

Councillor Roy Briscoe, Cabinet Member for Community Services at Chichester District Council said: “Sadly, we know that many young people have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic because of interruptions to their education, lack of social connections and becoming isolated during national lockdowns.

“We also know that emotional health, including connections with others and support with the next steps in life, is just as important as physical wellbeing, and so this service will play an incredibly important role. I’d encourage any young person who is struggling at the moment to get in touch and benefit from this support. The team offer a friendly and impartial ear and will take the time to listen and understand how they can help. They’ll then work with you to agree a plan to tackle the challenges that you’re facing.

“If you are, or you know of, a young person aged between 13 and 19 who may benefit from the help and support offered by the Chichester Youth Connections team, please visit: www.chichester.gov.uk/chichesteryouthconnections to complete a quick and easy contact form. You can also email the team on: chichesteryouthconnections@chichester.gov.uk.”

Chichester Youth Connections builds on the success of the council’s Social Prescribing service, which has helped over 2,500 people since its launch in 2018. The Social Prescribing team can help where the root cause for physical ill-health is related to issues such as money, debt and benefits, employment and housing, or social isolation. Residents are either referred to this service by their GP or they can get in contact or find out more about the council’s Social Prescribing service at: www.chichester.gov.uk/socialprescribing.

Roy adds: “With the current cost-of-living pressures, many people are finding things particularly challenging at the moment. Whether you’re struggling to pay bills, feel isolated, or are concerned about rising energy costs, we want to reassure you that there is a range of support available to you.

“To help make it easier to find out about the different types of support you can access, we’ve launched a new ‘Supporting You’ campaign in partnership with the Chichester Observer Series and our partners. The campaign is all about trying to simplify important information and advice and bring it all together in one place. All of this information can be found on our website — www.chichester.gov.uk/supportingyou — and includes support on finances; saving money on household bills; housing; health and wellbeing; and help for businesses.”

The council’s designated Supporting You web pages include a range of Q&A videos with in-house experts on a range of topics, including a section on the new Chichester Youth Connections service. Visit www.chichester.gov.uk/supporting and follow the council’s social media channels for the latest advice and support.