Support Services for Children, Teenagers and Young Adults in York and North Yorkshire

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The following list are provided for reference only and listing them here is not a recommendation or endorsement.

If you’re looking for immediate help (e.g. there is imminent risk to yourself or someone else), consider calling 999. If you’re in County Durham, Darlington, Teeside, York and most of North Yorkshire, the crisis team can be contacted on:

0800 0516171

This number is for children and adults and reports to be available 24/7.

If you’re in a different area of the UK and require support from a mental health crisis team, please visit this page: Where to get urgent help for mental health – NHS (www.nhs.uk)


Activities

  • Door84 provide an innovative, welcoming and stimulating environment that offers children, young people and the community a wide range of social and developmental opportunities that are supportive, challenging and fun. https://door84.org.uk/youth-work/
  • Lollipop offer free social activities for children and young people aged 0 – 25 in York and North Yorkshire who have any degree of deafness from mild to profound, or who have parent/s who are deaf. https://www.lollipopyork.org.uk/
  • Ignite – The Bright Sparks are 14 – 19-year-old individuals (25 SEND) living in North Yorkshire who work together on Heritage craft projects chosen by them and arranged by their facilitator. https://www.nyy.org.uk/development/ignite

Bereavement

  • Cruse Bereavement helps people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning. https://www.cruse.org.uk/ Youth site from Cruse: https://www.hopeagain.org.uk/  – provides resources and information for young people around dealing with loss. 
  • Winston’s Wish – Our specialist team provides emotional and practical bereavement support services to children and young people up to the age of 25, their families and those who care for them. Our expert teams are on hand to offer advice, guidance and bereavement support on a one-off or ongoing basis, depending on your needs. We also run online peer support groups and drop-in sessions. https://www.winstonswish.org/
  • Child bereavement UK support children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying. https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
  • Bereaved Children Support York offers free support for bereaved children and their families in the York area. Offers one to one support for children aged 5 to 18 years residing within the City of York Council boundary. Also holds monthly drop-in peer support sessions for bereaved children of any age and their parents/carers to meet each other. http://www.bcsy.org.uk/

 

Counselling services       

  • York MIND is a leading local provider of services supporting individuals recovering from mental ill-health to achieve outcomes that will progress them towards recovery, social inclusion and integration in mainstream activity such as learning, volunteering or employment. They offer counselling for the age groups 12 – 15; 16 – 25; and adults https://www.yorkmind.org.uk/how-we-help/counselling/
  • The Mix can offer over the phone or online counselling to anyone in the UK under the age of 25. https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team/the-mix-counselling-service
  • Serendipity are a private counselling service that have experience working with young people from the age of 11. Sessions range from £25 with a trainee to £55. https://www.serendipityyork.co.uk/

Eating

  • BEAT – Eating Disorders: If you want to speak to a trained eating disorder helpline support worker, you can call Beat’s helpline on 0808 801 0677. They offer free weekly online support via a Phoenix group- for anyone under the age of 25 with an eating disorder – no diagnosis needed. Share concerns, get advice, and talk to other young people who understand first-hand what you’re going through. https://helpfinder.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/phoenix/
  • SharED – One-to-one email support for young people looking for hope and encouragement from someone who’s recovered. SharED offers email-based peer support to young people (aged 12 – 25) so they can get that understanding. SharED pairs young people struggling with eating disorders with a volunteer who’s been there themselves.  https://helpfinder.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/shared/
  • Endeavour – Group support for anyone caring for a 5 – 15-year-old with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. https://helpfinder.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/endeavour/ 
  • SEED (Support and Empathy for people with Eating Disorders) is a group made up of ordinary people who have had first-hand experience of eating disorders in one form or another. https://seed.charity/ 
  • The Centre for Clinical Interventions have self-help resources to guide users through key components of cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED) https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Disordered-Eating 
  • Talk ED provide support for those with and caring for someone affected by an eating disorder. (Not young person specific) https://www.talk-ed.org.uk/

Emotional Health and Wellbeing

 

  • Yormind is here to talk to you about mental health and it’s all for under 25’s in York. https://www.yormind.org.uk/
  • No Panic has a helpline is for those aged up to 18 years old as well as parents or caregivers who may have concerns over a young person. They can help with anxiety, panic, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and the specific anxieties. They also offer telephone mentoring sessions at reduced rates. https://nopanic.org.uk/youth-hub/ / 0300 772 9844
  • York Mind is a leading local provider of services supporting individuals recovering from mental ill-health to achieve outcomes that will progress them towards recovery, social inclusion and integration in mainstream activity such as learning, volunteering or employment. https://www.yorkmind.org.uk/
  • PAPYRUS are a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal. https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
  • The Haven at Clarence Street provides a 365 days of the year mental health drop in for those 16+ with mental health difficulties in York or Selby from 6 – 10pm on weekdays or 2 – 10pm on weekends. https://www.mhm.org.uk/the-haven-30-clarence-street
  • The Mix is aimed at those aged under 25 years and offers information across a range of topics. They have a helpline open weekday evenings (0808 808 4994), as well as email support, a crisis text line, a live messenger chat. https://www.themix.org.uk/
  • CALM have a helpline and live chat for those over age 15 can access from 5pm to midnight every day. https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
  • Kooth is a digital mental health support service. It gives children and young people easy access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced counsellors. Access is free using their website. It’s completely anonymous and is a place to talk to counsellors; read articles written by young people and write in a daily journal. https://www.kooth.com/
  • IAPT (Individual Access to Psychological Therapies Programme) is a service that can offer specific psychological intervention around particular mental health difficulties such as phobia or anxiety, for ages 16+. https://yorkandselbyiapt.co.uk/ / 01904 556700
  • The Go-to is the home of wellbeing and mental health for young people in North Yorkshire https://thegoto.org.uk/

Family / social difficulties

  • Young Carers support young people aged between 5 and 18 who are helping to look after someone at home. They can offer youth clubs, trips and 1-1 support. https://yorkcarerscentre.co.uk/young-carers/
  • Reflect is a free support service in North Yorkshire for anyone facing a Pregnancy Choice and for those in need of support after experiencing Pregnancy or Neonatal Loss. https://reflectyork.co.uk/
  • PACT is a national charity which supports people affected by imprisonment. Provides practical and emotional support to prisoners’ children and families, and to prisoners themselves. http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/ 
  • Al-Anon Family Groups – for young people aged 12 – 17 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/
  • Relate help you make the most of your relationships, past, present or future. Services include various counselling and online support. They also offer practical tips, guides and videos to help you manage common relationship issues. Services cost and the closest services are in Leeds or Hull. https://www.relate.org.uk/
  • Family Matters York offer free parenting and relationship courses around supporting a young person in the home. https://fmy.org.uk/york/
  • The York Families Wellbeing Service provides community-based support to families within the City of York area. The service supports families to overcome any issues which may have a negative impact on their children’s wellbeing. https://www.commlinks.co.uk/services/york/york-families-wellbeing-service/?search_location=york&search_category=community-services
  • York Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service offers confidential advice and support for people under the age of 18 who are using substances (Drugs and/or Alcohol). We also offer support to young people (11-18 years old) affected by someone else’s drug and/or alcohol use. https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/find-support/other-services
  • GAM Care offers support to Young People (18 and under) affected by gambling including family. https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ / [email protected]

Gender identity

  • Barnardo’s offer online information for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and questioning young people http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_work/lgbtq.htm 
  • Mermaids is an organisation which supports trans children and their families up to age 19, with no lower age limit. They have online forums and hold residentials annually for trans children / young people and their families to come together. https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
  • Gender identity – Childline offer advice and support around gender identity. https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/sexual-identity/gender-identity/
  • MESMAC offer 1-1 and group support to young people in the LGBTQ+ community. The closest bases are now Leeds and Hull. https://www.mesmac.co.uk/our-services
  • GI youth groups offer online youth groups and 1-1 support for young trans and gender variant people. https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/trans-youth/youth-group.html

Housing

  • Changing Lives provides accommodation to people who are ready to move on from supported accommodation in York. They have 13 properties across York, including a nine-bed property specifically for young people aged 16-25.https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/find-support/york-shared-housing-st-marys
  • York accommodation – 16+ – The accommodation we are able to offer depends on your circumstances (see below) and what’s available at the time. https://www.york.gov.uk/hostels https://www.york.gov.uk/YouthHomelessness– aged 16 – 17 years

Listening services            

  • Samaritans – telephone call 116 123 (free 24 hours) or email [email protected] (Response time: 24 hours), “If you need someone to talk to, we listen. We won’t judge or tell you what to do.” https://www.samaritans.org/
  • Shout – text Shout to 85258. Shout is a free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/shout-85258/
  • BUZZ US – Young people aged 11–18 years can text BUZZ US about any mental health or wellbeing worries, such as low mood, stress, eating problem, self-harm, anxiety or self-esteem. Text 07520 631168 for confidential advice, support and signposting from a wellbeing worker within one working day via text. https://www.compass-uk.org/buzz-us/
  • Mental Health Matters: 0800 616171. More information about this service is available at: www.mentalhealthmatters.com
  • Childline: 0800 1111. More information about this service is available at: www.childline.org.uk
  • The Mix: Helpline – telephone number 0808 808 4994 (free 4pm 11pm). Also offer email support and a crisis textline. Mental health supports either a short telephone call or a more focused support. This can be accessed by anyone under the age of 25 all year round. https://www.themix.org.uk/
  • Hopelineuk (Papyrus) – telephone call 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email [email protected] 9am 10pm weekdays, 2pm – 10pm weekends, 2pm – 10pm bank holidays. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice. https://www.papyrus-uk.org/papyrus-hopelineuk/
  • Parentline/YoungMinds – telephone call 0808 802 5544 (free MonFri from 9.30am to 4pm). “Our Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to parents and carers worried about a child or young person under 25.” https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat/
  • Parentline Plus: 0808 800 2222. More information about this service is available at: familylives.org.uk 
  • CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably – 0800 585 858. Also offer a webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support 

Looked after children     

 

  • The York Family Information Service provides information for and around looked after children. https://www.showmethatimatter.com/
  • Specialist Learning and Employment Advisor Team are a team of Advisers who support young people who are in the care of the Local Authority or have an EHCP to take their next step towards employment. Work with young people aged 13-25 years who are in education. https://www.yor-ok.org.uk/2014%20YorOK%20Website/families/Local%20Offer/specialist-learning-and-employment-adviser-team.htm

Mentoring          

  • The Island provides Islands of space and time for vulnerable children and young people; building confidence, self-esteem and unlocking potential. Offer mentoring, youth clubs, tutoring and counselling. https://www.theislandyork.org/
  • NYY have buddy network and youth mentoring https://www.nyy.org.uk/development/buddy-network
  • Change Direction is a prevention and early intervention support scheme for young people aged 10-17 in North Yorkshire, who may be committing antisocial behaviour or very low-level offences, with the intention of diverting them away from the Criminal Justice System. https://www.nyy.org.uk/development/change-direction-youth-mentors

Post 18 services

  • Kyra Women’s Project exists to help local women make positive change in their lives. They offer a range of courses, therapies, life skills and events for women. [email protected] https://www.kyra.org.uk/
  • ANDYSMANCLUB create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives. They aim to achieve this through weekly, free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups. [email protected] ¦ https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
  • Menfulness bring men together to socialise, exercise, enjoy themselves, talk and let off steam in a non-judging, friendly and supportive environment. http://menfulness.org/
  • Survive offers specialist counselling and support work to all adults across North Yorkshire who have experienced sexual trauma including rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse as well as grooming, sexual exploitation and the coercive sexual control often present in abusive relationships. https://www.survive-northyorks.org.uk/
  • Live Well York is an Information and Advice community website for all adults. https://www.livewellyork.co.uk/
  • York Women’s Counselling provides 1-1 counselling to women who are experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties as a result of current or past emotional stress or trauma. Offers face to Face therapy/creative and talking therapies. https://yorkwomenscounselling.org/ (Contribution based but have a hardship fund for those that cannot pay at all.)
  • Converge is the York St John Horizon creative arts project which offers support and advice for people struggling with their mental health. https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge/ 121 Counselling offer 7 sessions of counselling, either face to face or by telephone. https://121counsellingyork.org/  (Donation but not essential)

Self-harm

  • TESS – text and email support service for girls & young women up to 24yrs in the UK affected by self-harm. Open Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri 7pm – 9pm Text on: 0780 047 2908, or webchat. http://www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/tess-text-and-email-support-service
  • The National self-harm network has an online support forum for those affected by self-harm. http://www.nshn.co.uk/
  • Alumina offer a free, online, live self-harm course for 11-19 year olds struggling with self-harm. selfharm.co.uk

 

Self-help: guides, apps and resources                                               

  • Students against depression is a website for students who are depressed, have low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. offers information and resources, alongside tips and advice http://studentsagainstdepression.org/
  • Moodjuice offers information, advice to those experiencing troublesome thoughts, feelings and actions. It looks at many different areas such as: anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress, shyness, OCD and offers self-help guides which may be valuable for parents/cares and the young person. http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/

 

  • The Young Minds Website contains lots of information about the mental health of young people, why it is so important, how to keep mentally healthy and what you can do if you are struggling. www.youngminds.org.uk
  • The Yor-OK website is designed to support parents, carers, children, young people and anyone who works with children, young people and families. https://www.yor-ok.org.uk/ The Recovery college online is a self-help website offering information about mental health and online courses that you can access which support people with mental health difficulties. www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk    
  • The Centre for Clinical Interventions offers a range of information, worksheets and workbooks across a range of topics relating to mental health. https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself
  • APPS:
  • Cedar offers a range of workbooks across topics relating to mental health. https://cedar.exeter.ac.uk/resources/iaptinterventions/
  • Alena – for social anxiety
  • Mineshift CBT – for anxiety
  • Worry time – for worrying
  • MoodTools – for low mood
  • Molehill mountain – like a worry time app
  • CBT-I Coach – around tracking sleep (is a very good app but you’d have to explain it)
  • Calm Harm – self-harm distractions
  • Routine Flow: Routine and ADHD – for creating routines

 

Special Educational Needs, including autism and ADHD

  • Choose2 provides a wide range of activities and opportunities for young people with disabilities in York and North Yorkshire. They also offer help in terms of employability for young people with disabilities https://choose2.co.uk/other-provision/ 
  • The Snappy Trust is a small charity, based in York, dedicated to maximising the personal development of children and young people with wide ranging disabilities. They run a number of programmes dedicated to building confidence, independence and social skills, but mostly, to give our children and young people the opportunity to enjoy new experiences, have fun and make friends! https://www.thesnappytrust.org/projects
  • Parent/carer support – Yor-ok: Within this section, you will find information regarding parent carer groups where you will be able to talk to others in similar situations, support services available in York, national support services and more. https://www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Local%20Offer/parent-carer-support-2.htm
  • SENDIASS – At York SENDIASS we help parents, children and young people with impartial and confidential information, advice and support (IAS) – https://www.yorksendiass.org.uk/
  • EP support line -A confidential telephone support service, staffed by Educational Psychologists, to talk through questions or concerns about children and young people’s wellbeing or learning. Open to all parents/carers of children with additional needs or SEND, living in the City of York, and practitioners working with children who live in/attend an educational setting in York. https://www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Local%20Offer/parent-carer-support-line.htm
  • York Inspirational Kids – Offering support, friendship, activities, training and outings for parents, families of children with a disability and, or additional needs living in the York area https://www.yiks.co.uk/
  • The Island – A charity in York providing Islands of space and time for vulnerable children and young people; building confidence, self-esteem and unlocking potential through positive mentoring relationships and unique programmes. Offer mentoring, youth clubs, tutoring and counselling. https://www.theislandyork.org/
  • The Barn – Spectrum Youth Group is aimed at young people aged 14-25 who have special needs. Our aim is to create opportunities for our young people with disabilities to develop friendships and reduce social isolation that many experience. https://tadcasterbarn.co.uk/whats-on/spectrum-youth-group/
  • ACCET – The Autism Community Connector and Engagement Team in North Yorkshire and York aims to improve the health; well-being and independence of families with children and young people who are awaiting or have recently received an Autistic diagnosis to strengthen pathways of support. For further details about the project please contact Ruth Little – [email protected]
  • ADAPT is a resource is for parents of children and young people who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). https://www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk/courses/adapt-after-diagnosis-of-autism-parent-support-training/
  • The Specialist Teaching Team Autism are offering parents/carers the opportunity to talk individually to a member of the team regarding general issues and concerns about children/young people with autism. 20 minutes is allocated per phone call. To book your place on the session, please email: [email protected]
  • The National Autistic Society: This website provides information to both parents of children with ASD, to children themselves and to professionals. http://www.autism.org.uk/
  • Cerebra works with families with children with brain conditions, including ASC and ADHD, around issues with sleep. They have resources, a help line and can offer 1-1 support. They also support those on waiting lists for neuro assessments. https://cerebra.org.uk/
  • Mind Garden York offer wellbeing walks, online drop-in and group sessions, and 1-1 coaching. https://mindgardenyork.co.uk/neurodivergent-families/
  • Specialist Learning and Employment Advisor Team support young people who are in the care of the Local Authority or have an EHCP to take their next step towards employment. For 13-25 year-olds who are on roll at a secondary school in York (year 9 and above), attend further and specialist colleges or have a personalised learning programme. https://www.yor-ok.org.uk/2014%20YorOK%20Website/families/Local%20Offer/specialist-learning-and-employment-adviser-team.htm
  • Lollipop offer free social activities for children and young people aged 0 – 25 in York and North Yorkshire who have any degree of deafness from mild to profound, or who have parent/s who are deaf. https://www.lollipopyork.org.uk/
  • Club Wilber provides a supportive environment and programme of activities for families of children with a visual impairment in Yorkshire. https://www.wilberforcetrust.org.uk/club-wilber-membership/

 

  • Sensory integration training – https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/courses/understanding-sensory-processing-and-integration-in-children-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers

Sexual health    

  • Yorsexual Health is a free and confidential sexual health service, running across York and North Yorkshire. https://www.yorsexualhealth.org.uk/ / 01904 721111
  • Sleep The Sleep Charity aims to help everyone get a better night’s sleep. Whether it’s advice, education or support for children, teenagers, adults, workplaces or professionals. https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/ 
  • Cerebra works with families with children with brain conditions, including ASC and ADHD, around issues with sleep. They have resources, a help line and can offer 1-1 support. They also support those on waiting lists for neuro assessments. https://cerebra.org.uk/
  • Trauma Victim Support have been commissioned to run specialist services including Counselling and an enhanced outreach Independent Victim Advisor (IVA) service.https://www.supportingvictims.org/
  • IDAS is a charity that provides comprehensive support services to all those experiencing or affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Services include refuge accommodation, outreach support and access to a free, confidential helpline.https://idas.org.uk/
  • IAPT is a service that can offer specific psychological intervention around particular mental health difficulties, including trauma-informed work. for ages 16+. You can ask your GP to make a referral or self-refer online on the website. https://yorkandselbyiapt.co.uk/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/
  • Rape Crisis provide specialist information and support to all those affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and all other forms of sexual violence and abuse in England and Wales. Whether it happened recently or a long time ago – or you’re not sure what happened – they have lots of information and support that might help. https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/
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