Youth Support Service

Our Youth Support Service provides services for young people aged 13 to 19 years old (up to 25 for young people with an Education, Health and Care plan).

The service manages the delivery of a comprehensive ‘youth offer’ which includes the provision of

  • information
  • advice and careers guidance to support access to education
  • employment or training opportunities
  • youth work and positive activities

Youth Careers Advisors

Youth Careers Advisors provide support for young people who are Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET aged 16 to 19 years old and up to 25 where they have an EHC plan or are care leavers.   This support is delivered by qualified career advisors who provide information, advice and guidance to help overcome barriers to education, employment, or training.  Support includes information around options available, careers advice, CV writing, job searching advice and interview skills.  This can be delivered virtually or face to face.

How to access:  Young people who do not have an “offer of learning” for year 12 and year 13 (or up to 25 where an EHC is in place), or do not have a confirmed Destination will be identified through the Local Authorities tracking responsibilities.  The YSS Contact and Engagement Team will reach out to all those identified to offer support.  Young people and parents can make direct enquiries. 

Youth Clubs

Details of youth clubs can be found in the leisure and things to do section or you can find more information on the Central Bedfordshire Council's website.

Youth Voice

Our youth work team support young people to have a voice and make a difference in their local community through different youth voice mechanisms, including Youth Parliament, Youth Central, Youth Councils and the Children In Care Council.

Youth Parliament

As an elected group of young people, Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 13 to 18-year-olds for a two-year term to use their voice in creative ways to bring about social change. They help influence the services provided and ensure the views of young people are known and understood.  Elections take place through local schools.

Elections to Youth Parliament take place every two years in February (next elections will be 2024).  The elections will be promoted through Schools, Youth Groups, and social media from the September 2023.  

Further details of how to express an interest in standing for election and how elections are managed will be included in the promotional materials.

Youth Central / Youth Councils

There are currently groups based in Houghton Regis, Sandy and Ampthill. Young people in these groups focus on making a difference within their community on local issues. 

If you would like more information or are interested in joining the groups please contact the youth support service using the contact details below.

Young Commissioners

Young Commissioners provide a platform for young people to become involved in the decision making process of the recruitment and selection of organisations to run the council youth support services, these services are aimed at children and young people who live and go to school in Central Bedfordshire.

Being part of the Young Commissioners provides young people with an excellent opportunity to have a voice in finding the right organisations to deliver youth provision on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council.

Young Commissioners are also trained to carry out inspections of services, report their findings and make recommendations on how the service can be improved to meet the needs of young people.

Children In Care Council

The CiCC is open to all young people in care (looked after by  Central Bedfordshire) and care leavers.  The group aims to promote the voice of children in care and has a key part in shaping services.

CICC members are important part of the statutory Corporate Parenting Panel.  

All eligible young people will be given information about joining the CICC.  If you would like more information please contact the youth support service using the contact details below.

Additional opportunities

Young people involved in all our projects have additional opportunities such as recruitment and selection of staff, meeting with their local councillors and MP’s and attending CBC strategic meetings to represent the views of young people.

To find out more visit the Central Bedfordshire Youth Voice website.

Who to contact

Telephone
0300 300 8352 0300 300 8352
E-mail
youth.services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Website
Youth Support Service
Scan to visit this website

Actions

Save to Shortlist
Is this information correct?

Last Updated

Last updated: 30/08/2023