Youth involvement is at the heart and soul of everything at the Suffolk Young People’s Health Project (also known as ‘4YP’ – For Young People).
4YP offers vital drop-in services that improve the social, emotional and physical health and wellbeing of young people in Suffolk. Demand for the 4YP service is so high that their waiting list stands at over 180 young people and a waiting time of at least six months for new referrals.
Global’s Make Some Noise are proud to support 4YP’s project ‘Giving Young People A Voice – Counselling For Young People’ to help provide 20 hours a week of counselling for 96 weeks. This project aims to intervene in and prevent poor emotional health for at least 190 young people in Suffolk aged between 12-25 years old.
4YP have been providing support to people like 16-year-old Paul, who has lived with autism and bullying from an early age. Facing isolation by people misunderstanding his behaviour, Paul eventually visited a 4YP ‘Walk n Talk’ session. Whilst Paul initially avoided taking part, he returned the next week – a huge step. As the weeks progressed, with the help of the Young People’s Workers at 4YP, Paul is now a confident and popular role model as he helps others who have been through similar issues.
4YP have also helped young people like Amrita, who started a new sixth form after moving away at short notice following problems with her step father. Amrita began to feel isolated and depressed as she faced being treated differently because of her dyslexia and different background. Counselling at 4YP gave Amrita the space to talk to someone at her own pace, and by the end of the course, she felt comfortable to open up both emotionally and to life experiences. The support from 4YP has enabled Amrita to concentrate on her studies and achieve the grades she needs to get into her desired college course.
“The atmosphere is brilliant. 4YP treat me like an adult, which I think is so important. I’m treated in a way I want to be treated, not spoken down to like a child. I’ve been in a better place since I started coming here. I absolutely love it.”
You can find out more about 4YP here.