Young People's Counselling Service

The Young People's Counselling Service (YPCS) is a United Kingdom-based registered charity (Charity number: 1190555) dedicated to promoting, preserving, and protecting the mental health of young people and their families. The organization provides a free and confidential counselling service specifically for individuals aged 11 to 18 who are experiencing emotional difficulties.

Mission and Services

YPCS offers support to young people facing a range of issues including family and relationship difficulties, loneliness, anxiety, bullying, low self-esteem, self-harm, abuse, addiction, bereavement, depression, and challenges in decision making. The service aims to help young people cope with these mental health challenges through accessible emotional support.

Access and Current Status

As of the most recent update, YPCS's waiting list for its free counselling service is closed due to high demand but the charity aims to reopen it as soon as possible. In the meantime, it advises those seeking support to contact their general practitioners or emergency services if urgent help is needed.

Context of Youth Mental Health in the UK

YPCS operates within a challenging context where approximately three in four children with diagnosable mental health conditions do not receive the necessary support. Nationally, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) face long waiting times, with nearly 10 months until the start of treatment in many cases. Only a small fraction of the NHS budget is allocated to children's mental health, with limited funding for early intervention.

Governance and Funding

The charity is managed by a board of 10 trustees and supported by 10 volunteers. Financially, for the year ending July 31, 2023, YPCS reported a total income of £410,320 and expenditures of £433,306. The income includes £34,000 received from government grants. None of the trustees receive remuneration, and the charity operates without employees earning over £60,000 annually. The trustees are also directors of any subsidiary organizations related to YPCS.

Impact and Importance

YPCS plays a critical role in addressing the mental health needs of young people by providing accessible counselling services that help mitigate the effects of various emotional and psychological issues. Its work contributes to broader efforts to improve youth mental health outcomes in the UK by filling gaps left by other public services.

This article summarizes the key aspects of the Young People's Counselling Service based on its charitable objectives, services, operational context, governance, and financial information as publicly reported.

[1] https://www.ypcs.uk [2] https://www.youngminds.org.uk [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5140598 [4] https://www.ypas.org.uk [5] https://www.ypicounselling.co.uk