December
From a young person attending Services for Young People projects in the Broxbourne district
“I’ve been coming to youth projects for 5 years. Some of the things I’ve struggled with are anxiety, panic attacks, anger, eating disorder, depression, self-harm, family issues and suicidal thoughts… Through coming to the projects I have met youth workers who have gone the extra mile to help me discover that life is worth living. I found it really helpful when the youth workers listen as I feel heard and understood.”
From a parent of a young person attending Services for Young People Healthy Relationships and Positive Pathways projects at Potters Bar Young People’s Centre
"I just wanted to say how grateful we are to you, your team and also to the council for arranging, managing and funding this youth project. My son looks forward to attending every week. It’s a good release of his energy for him, not to mention a great opportunity for him to socialise with others outside of his school. Something which we feel is ever so important in this digital age which can be rather unsociable."
From Cllr Annie Brewster, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, after visiting a youth work project delivered by the Services for Young People St Albans Team
"I would like to thank you, and your wonderful team, for inviting me to your Wednesday night session in Harpenden. In the hour I was with you I was blown away by the young people and the impact you are having on them. It was a total delight to engage with each one and to understand quite how important the support, guidance and care you give them is to their sense of self-worth and their, clearly, growing confidence. They are fully aware of the trusting environment you have created and appreciative of the mix of stimulating activity and just 'being' space you so ably provide."
November
From the Careers/Work Related Learning Leader at the Bishop’s Stortford High School to a Services for Young People Employment & Training Adviser
"Just to say a big thank you for coming along yesterday and presenting your apprenticeship session to Year 11. I thought it was really terrific so well done!"
July
From the Deputy Headteacher at Monk's Walk School, Welwyn Garden City, to a Services for Young People Employment & Skills Coordinator
"Our Year 10 work experience was a huge success! Students have returned to school this week talking about the experiences they have had in a very positive manner. The feedback we had from the employers was highly complimentary. Hopefully these links will be in place again for next year. Thank you for all the hard work you and your colleagues have done to ensure that this could go ahead... I know it's been a mammoth task."
From the Intervention Officer and Child Protection and Social Services Lead at Haileybury Turnford School, Cheshunt
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and your team [Broxbourne, East Herts Welwyn Hatfield IAG and Youth Work Team] for all that you do to support our students. They enjoy all aspects of the support put in place for them and I am extremely grateful to have this for them. The team are amazing with our students, they have fun as well as serious times with them, covering all sorts of topics and situations, and without this support a lot of our students would really struggle. So again THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU."
From the Deputy Head at Rhodes Wood Hospital School, Hatfield, about a Services for Young People Personal Adviser
"It is our pleasure having you here in school to work with our young people and we are extremely grateful for all of your hard work with them. I speak for all of our staff when I say we love having you in and look forward to welcoming you back in the next academic year. I look forward to planning our next suite of sessions with you!"
From the Assistant Head Teacher at Robert Barclay School, Hoddesdon, about a Services for Young People Personal Adviser
"I just wanted to pass on my thanks for the excellent work [your Personal Adviser] is doing. A prime example is last week she met with a student and his mum for the full hour and helped him secure a place so he is no longer at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employing or training). This has continued her excellent work she did for us during lock down."
June
From a parent about a Services for Young People Youth Worker in the Three Rivers Team
"I just wanted to say how pleased I was with SfYP... for taking my daughter on the DofE expedition recently. She attended the Oxhey meetings every 2nd week as she couldn’t get onto her school course as they only let 30 sign up. You were welcoming and kind and my daughter really enjoyed working with her to build her confidence."
From a parent about a Personal Adviser in the Services for Young People SEND Team
"I just wanted to let you know that my son and I met with [a Personal Adviser]. She was amazing. Thanks to you, he now has two options come next year. Staying on and doing the degree or leaving and doing an apprenticeship. The great part is that having gone through the process with her, he isn’t scared anymore of doing an apprenticeship. I just wanted to let you know and thank you greatly for putting us in touch. You are amazing."
From Assistant Head Teacher at Richard Hale School, Hertford, to a Services for Young People Personal Adviser
"Thank you SO much for everything you have done this year, and previously, at RHS. You have made an enormous impact on our students, helped me significantly in terms of interventions, and been a completely reliable and dependable partner to the school."
From Key Stage 4 Lead at Garston Manor School, Watford
"I just wanted to say that we had an amazing assembly today from the [Services for Young People] youth work team on LGBT+... their energy and positivity really helped with our students, along with the use of BSL [British Sign Language] to engage everyone. It is very rare that we have an assembly that staff instantly comment on how good the people running it are with our students. Their enthusiasm for the subject is clearly contagious and our students and staff responded extremely positively. We will certainly be getting you back in to do some smaller bespoke sessions to support our students more.... Another positive experience for us from Services for Young People and the amazing work you all do."
From a young person about a Services for Young People Personal Adviser in our Watford Three Rivers Hertsmere Team
"I just really wanted to take the time... to express to you how prodigiously thankful I am in terms of your diligent and ceaseless service towards me... when it comes to discussing the long term outlook of my career path as well as evaluating different types of strategies and coping mechanisms, to evidently make it less of a taxing tumultuous process for me to ultimately reach the end goal. The way you approach my needs as well as the strengths and weaknesses traits that are found within me with such first class professionalism... ultimately makes me feel more valued as a person to realise my worth and the potential within me. So your incessant words of wisdom and encouragement and your thorough conscientious guidance towards me never goes unappreciated, and I just really wanted to thank you in adulation for your remarkable and solicitous hospitality towards me and my mother."
From the Careers Coordinator at the Hemel Hempstead School
"I just wanted to say many thanks to your team for working with us to make our first work experience week in many years a success. It was pretty challenging at times but [your team] supported us immensely with the whole process."
May
From a School Family Worker at Gade Schools Family Support Services about Youth Workers in the Dacorum Team
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the support you have given to two young people from a family I support. They have had a very difficult childhood in terms of their housing situation and mum's health. Both of these siblings received one-to-one support followed by attendance at group [youth work] sessions and they attended the [Services for Young People] HAPpy Programme over the Easter holidays. The improvement seen at school and at home in relation to their wellbeing has been so much improved, they are so much happier and less troubled and absolutely love attending the [Hemel Hempstead Young People's Centre] each week. I know that their mum is very grateful and I just wanted to say how much you have helped to change these two young people's lives so much for the better."
From the Careers Leader at Parmiter’s School, Watford
"It was a great team effort working with [the Services for Young People Personal Advisers] and they were brilliant… professional, well prepared, impartial, adaptable to all the situations the students presented with, and produced well-rounded Action Plans that I have been able to refer to, to help the students ensure they are thinking about their Plan B. Above all, I really enjoyed working with them... [they] made it a lot easier to support the students who really need help in making decisions and deciding next steps, or at least thinking about what their next steps might be. We ensured that a number of students who really needed the support had two meetings and they all responded really well to the process… I think because the students had a good experience of going through the process, the other students were more willing to come and have the meetings… I highly recommend the service you provide to other educational institutions."
From an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, Children’s Emergency Department, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, about a Youth Support Worker in the Stevenage Team
"I just wanted to... acknowledge the amazing service that you and your team provide in the Children's Emergency Department (CED). On shift yesterday we had a young woman that presented to the CED accompanied by two police officers under a Section 136. [She] was reluctant to engage with the nursing staff but when you kindly agreed to spend some time with her the difference in her was wonderful to witness. I could see how [you] had gained [her] trust and it was a joy to hear the laughter and watch them playing games. A pure distraction for this young woman in what I can only imagine was a scary and daunting situation to be in."
From a young person about a Youth Support Worker in the Dacorum Team
"Thank you for being my comfort person. You have helped me through a lot, even through my tough times, without you realising... you're the only one I actually open up to and talk to... so when everyone asks me who do you feel like you can open up to, I always mention your name. I feel bad coz I’m always rude to you - but in a jokey way and I hope you see it like that... Your listening and sticking by me has helped me so much through my life since Watford and Hemel. Thank you."
From a parent of a young person who attended a Supporting You project in the St Albans district
"The projects my daughter attended last term have made a massive difference to her wellbeing! In the space of a few weeks she went from being withdrawn, with low self-esteem and regularly self-harming, to a bubbly, confident and much happier girl. She is so much better at controlling her emotions… is nowhere near as anxious and she hasn't self-harmed in months! The key thing that changed in her routine was attending the Services for Young People's projects; so I can safely say that what you are doing works!"
April
From a young person about a Personal Adviser in the East Herts Team
"I had a meeting on Microsoft Teams with [a Personal Adviser] which helped me prepare for my interview by discussing the potential interview questions I might be asked. I wrote notes to help me and the meeting made me feel more prepared for the interview I attended this morning. I was offered a trial shift today and accepted it. I am looking forward to this new chapter. Thanks very much!"
March
From a parent about a Personal Adviser in the Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere Team
"I truly want to thank you for all your support and guiding us in the right direction. Before we met you, we were very unsure about [our daughter's] next steps... you have made [us both] feel very at ease and supported."
From Richard Hale School, Hertford
"Thank you Services for Young People East Herts Team for all that you do. The quality of individual support and expertise you provide is a crucial part of our extensive careers education programme. The feedback from Year 10, 11 and 13 students has been exceptional!"
From Haileybury Turnford School, Cheshunt
"I wanted to thank everyone at Services for Young People for all the help and support that they have given to our students over the last few months - and in some cases years! Your staff work tirelessly to help support our students and do it in such a natural and caring way that everyone feels so comfortable. Their knowledge is amazing and the support is second to none!"
From the Headteacher, Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted
"I wanted to extend my thanks for the time you were able to give at our Extended Learning Day last week. This was a fantastic opportunity for students in Years 9 and 10 to research career opportunities and hear about vital employability skills from experts in their field. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise - it was a valuable experience for our students."
From the LRC Manager, Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted
"I just wanted to express our gratitude for such an inspiring day today and for creating such a special event for our student community. Your fantastic session provided a wonderful opportunity for students to start to think about career possibilities in such a relevant and meaningful way."
