About us

YPAS is a Merseyside based Charity, Established in 1966. We serve a population of over 150,000 children and young people. We support children and young people aged 5 – 25 years and families to address their mental health and emotional well-being difficulties.

YPAS is a Youth Information Advice and Counselling Service (YIACS) that provides free, accessible and age-appropriate support to young people with a wide range of issues. YIACS are driven by the needs of children and young people.

Our services are delivered across Merseyside in venues that include, primary and secondary schools, our three locality community hubs, GP surgeries, and education settings etc.

What does YPAS help with?

YPAS helps with a wide range of difficulties that children, young people and families experience. These difficulties can often impact how we feel, affecting our everyday mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Our therapy service provides a wide range of counselling and psychotherapy interventions designed to help address those issues that impact mental health and emotional wellbeing. Common presenting issues include: anxiety, depression, bullying, self-harm, bereavement, sexual abuse, family-related issues, emotional abuse, neglect, bereavement, grief, loss, domestic violence, hearing voices, etc.

Our wellbeing service provides a wide range of support and low intensity evidence based interventions designed to address the impact of mental health and emotional wellbeing. The service also provides open access groups, drop-in activities and information, advice and guidance. Common presenting issues include: anger, isolation, confidence, self-esteem, family- related issues, education, housing, benefits, etc. In addition the service provides targeted support to LGBTQ+ young people who are exploring their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of children, young people and families in a non-stigmatized environment, that allows us to:

  • Deliver a wide range of support and therapeutic interventions
  • Reach children, young people and families as early as possible
  • Consistently monitor progress and change
  • Work jointly with professionals across health, education and social care
  • Include children, young people and families in the design and delivery of services
  • Ensure services and pathways are accessible

Our Vision

We will listen, support and empower them to achieve this by providing high quality information, advice, guidance and therapeutic services. YPAS is of a diverse community where children, young people and families feel:

  • Safe
  • Valued
  • Respected
  • Included
  • Motivated

Equality and Diversity

The Young Persons Advisory Service consists of a diverse community of staff, children, young people, parent/carers and families and welcomes all views and feedback from the communities it serves. YPAS is committed to providing and promoting equality and opportunities that allows everyone to be involved in shaping the delivery of our services.

By accessing our website you have joined the YPAS community and here you will find our comments, compliments & complaints (CCC) form, which we encourage you to share your thoughts about our services and social media content.

YPAS recognises its accessibility limitations and has a strategy for addressing these limitations. YPAS sets annual quality objectives with comprehensive actions plans and dedicated task and finish groups. A copy of our strategy is available on request from [email protected].