About No5 Young People
Since it was established in 1971, No5 Young People has provided free, confidential mental health support, professional counselling and outreach to over 30,000 young people aged 11 to 25 and their families across the RG postcode area.
Last year we supported over 2,500 young people and 700 desperately worried parents and carers.
Counselling
In 2023 we supported over 800 young people, from our house in central Reading, 7 local secondary schools, online and over the phone. We offer up to 20 sessions of counselling to every young person
Outreach
Preventative Outreach projects are co-designed and co-delivered by young people and professionals, delivered in schools, the local community and online reaching over 1,500 young people. These include Creative Expressive Wellbeing workshops, School Transitions support, school exclusion prevention, mental health education and workshops, plus digital information, advice, resources and activities created by our brilliant Young Ambassadors
Young Voices Collaborations and Social Action
Young Voices is a project established by Starting Point in collaboration with No5 and Reading FC Community Trust, alongside statutory partners, aims to create meaningful opportunities for local young people to become involved in strategy and decision-making in Reading.
With Young Voices, young people have created their own version of the Extra Familial Harm and Community Safety Partnership (CSP) strategies, and created a logo for the Community Safety Partnership.
Other social action projects include a Young Votership project, encouraging young people to register to vote, have the correct ID and go vote on polling day.
Through No5, young people receive AQA Unit Award certificates as recognition of their skill development and participation.
Our services are open-access, self-referral so young people and their families can ask us directly for help without needing to see a GP. The number of parents and young people contacting us rises each year due to the huge pressure on NHS children’s services, and the long waits. Demand for our service has never been higher.
