Information links for young people
Email this pageAdvocacy
Re-think Advocacy
If you are a young person receiving social care services, you have a right to access independent advocacy. An advocate can help you to make a complaint or to support you to have your views heard in decision-making meetings
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
NYAS is proud to offer the Safety Net service for care-experienced children and young people across England. We will listen to any concerns you may have, signpost you to the appropriate service, and help you access the support you need.
Understanding your rights
Apprenticeship/schemes and opportunities
Into Apprenticeships 2023
from Disability Rights UK
School Leavers Options Guide Summer 2022
from Essex Youth Service
Self-improvement/ short course resources North Essex.
Self Improvement and short course information for the North Essex
Heads Up Leaflet
Supporting you back into work or training
Foundation Learning & Traineeship Options
Foundation Learning & Traineeship Options North East Essex (Updated May 2022)
Netmatters Flyer
Become a junior Web developer in just 4 weeks!
Zinc Education
Zinc is an arts-based education charity, focusing on delivering core subjects, independent living and life skills all taught through cross curricular arts-based projects.
Access to Work
This is an initiative created by the Government , ran by the Department for Work and Pensions to support people
with ADHD and other disabilities access work, it is aimed to help support people who are aware that there are
certain barriers preventing them from pursuing a working life.
Realise Futures
Realise Futures works to improve people's social and economic well-being through work placements, employment and training opportunities. They provide training, careers advice and learning and development opportunities for young people 16+.
Information on schemes and work experience opportunities for you to be a part of
From Essex Youth Service
Finding an Apprenticeship via The National Apprenticeship Site
From Essex Youth Service
Find out about construction and employability skills training to young people aged 11-19 from all over Essex
From Essex Youth Build who are a Chelmsford-based charity
Apprenticeships Levels Explained
From Amazing Apprenticeships
Explore apprenticeships, T-Levels, traineeships and information and resources
From Amazing Apprenticeships
Find an Apprenticeship
From Government
Information on apprenticeships, internships, work experience, traineeships and independent living
From Essex Local Offer Preparing for Adulthood
The Multi School Council
What is the Multi School Council
The Multi Schools Council was started in 2012 to help break down perceptions towards children with SEND and mental health difficulties in schools and their wider communities.
A New Book - A Toolkit for Teachers: Autism, ADHD and Mental Health
A toolkit for teachers: Autism, ADHD and Mental Health has been written with our young ambassadors from the Multi School Council.
Multi School Council - Essex Young People: School Attendance 2022
The Multi School Council spoke with young people across Essex with and without special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The information in this report is what young people want you to know.
Multi School Council - Ambassadors
Information on Multi School Council Ambassadors
Things to do
The Independence Project is on a mission to highlight the difficulties that young adults face and strives to make a difference to the lives of people and their families across Essex.
from the Independence Project
Soccability Football for children between 12-16 with additional needs - Gallywood Youth FC, Chelmsford
Soccability Football for children between 12-16 with additional needs delivered by qualified SEN teachers - Galleywood Youth FC, Chelmsford, Essex
This Girls Ability Multi-Sports Club
This Girls Ability Multi-Sports Club at Writtle University College (Sports Hall) starting from Saturday (21st January), 10 - 11 am. This Girls Ability Multi-Sports is for girls/young women with disabilities aged 8-25 years old. The friendly group aims to help young people increase their confidence and fitness levels.
Step into Yoga - Brentwood Youth Centre
Yoga for young people aged 18-25 with SEND (inclusive yoga & beginners welcome)
Adult Pan-Disability Sessions - Colchester
From the 5th June the Colchester United Community Foundation will be running an adult (18+) Pan-disability football session at Colchester stadium. This session is completely FREE. This is the first time they have ran an adult disability session, everyone is welcome. To book, please visit Class4kids and search the session.
If you are a Young Person with learning disabilities / additional needs, then check out the wide range of fun, leisure and social activities and opportunities
From InterAct
Find all of the activities you could get involved in with the Essex Youth Service
From Essex Youth Service
Activities for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are designed to develop creative skills and increase confidence through drama games and performance
From Mercury theatre
Disability4Sport offers Something4Everyone through an inclusive activities that promote a level playing field and positive experiences for disabled people
From Disability4 Sports
Essex Dance Theatre
“Dance Inclusion” is for young adult dancers with learning disabilities, an exciting and inspiring approach to integrated dance.
Someone to listen to your worries
An online mental wellbeing community for young people
From Kooth
Safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing
From Togetherall
Find tools for young people to look after their mental health and give young people the space and confidence to get their voices heard
From Young Minds
Discover weekly sessions where you can talk to your counsellor about what is on your mind
From Y.E.S.
Youthful Wellbeing Service for young adults aged 18-25 - South Essex
Working with Thurrock and Brentwood Mind, alongside other local Minds and health services, to offer wellbeing support to young adults aged 18-25 who are experiencing mental health problems. Including those in vulnerable groups.
Youthful Wellbeing Service for young adults aged 18-25 - Brentwood & Basildon
Providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Talking Therapies - Basildon and Brentwood
Talking Therapies are the free NHS talking therapies, mental health service for Brentwood, Basildon, Billericay, and Wickford for over 16 years olds
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
There’s a lot of new and sometimes confusing language used by people talking about being LGBT+. It can be difficult to understand what people mean – which can also make it difficult to explain what you’re feeling inside.
Vulnerability and Violence Support
Essex Youth Offending Service
The Essex Youth Offending Service works with children and young people who have offended, to help prevent them getting into further trouble.
Active Essex Foundation
This new project establishes the Foundation as the lead organisation in Essex for using sport to prevent youth crime and violence.
Catch 22
Catch 22 cover the spectrum of youth justice, from crime diversion and prevention through to intensive supervision and surveillance and reparation.
Catch 22
Catch22 builds high quality relationships alongside case management in prisons and rehabilitation work to provide the long term support needed for positive outcomes and to reduce reoffending.
Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit
Useful links for finding help and support