Young People Taking Action The CYDS project is a youth open access centre for all young people aged from 8 to 29. We provide a vital free resource in the rurally isolated area around Leiston, Saxmundham and Aldeburgh. Safeguarding Statement
Young People Taking Action is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all young people by taking all reasonable steps to protect them from neglect, phys
ical, sexual or emotional harm. Staff and Volunteers will at all times show respect and understanding for their rights. Primary Objectives
• Free, confidential, open minded, non- judgemental support
• To aid young people to reach their full potential
• To empower young people to take control of their daily lives and future independence
• To respect the rights of the individual and their choices
• To provide information and advice on topics which may hinder young people reaching their goals
• To meet the needs of young people in the local community and surrounding area
• To advocate on behalf of the young people so they receive the best and most useful service for them
• To offer a service which is user- friendly and flexible to the needs of the users, which offers the opportunity for early intervention together with crisis support
Why our work is necessary
Many of the young people we work with have multiple issues holding them back. They may have substance/alcohol misuse problems, they may come from disrupted families, they may have been the victim of abuse, they may have educational barriers, or disabilities, come from families with a history of chronic unemployment to name but a few. Add these to the very real rural isolation our area also has, with further education providers being at least 25 miles away, transport links that are overpriced run at the wrong times making them at times useless, the decline in unskilled rural work,
What we do
We offer 32 hours of activities per week, 51 weeks a year. This includes
9 hours of fun diversionary activities such as: arts and crafts, photography, cooking, music/dance, film making, pool/table tennis, computer gaming and much more.
12 hours of support for young people not in education, employment or training including: job search, CV/letter writing, interview techniques, using the telephone and using computers/internet.
6 hours of issue based group work such as: substance misuse, sexual health, giving up smoking, anger management/copping strategies and becoming a parent.
5 hours of juniors for our younger members. Lots of fun and positive activities.