Link Youth Support was founded in South Devon in 1979 and since 1998 has become an integral part of Torbay Children's Services within the Social Services Directorate.
Our Aims
- To support children and young people experiencing difficulties at home, school or in the community
- To work in conjunction with other agencies, to help children and young people deal with difficulties in their lives
- To encourage children and young people to develop their own resources and skills to cope with the issues affecting them
Who are the services for?
Young people in Torbay between the ages of 5 to 15, who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. This support is in-line with the requirements of the Children Act 1989 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
What does LINK provide?
- Activities Project (Children's Fund): This project offers youth group activities and social excursions to children and young people aged 5-13 years at risk in Torbay. This project will work with children, identified primarily by the police, at risk because of social and economic isolation. This Friday evening and Saturday project utilises volunteers to assist with social activities and having fun!
- Schools Support Project (Children's Fund): This preventative project offers help and support to children and young people aged 5-13 years experiencing difficulties in school. 15 schools in Torbay are able to access two schools support project workers who provide 1:1 work, group-work and specialist transition work for children; this work takes place within their school environment.
- Transition Youth Support Project: This service helps young people from their 10th Birthday to their 13th Birthday to manage the changes from primary to secondary school, a time when those prone to disaffection will need extra support.
- Under 10's Crime Prevention Project: Children from their 8th Birthday to their 10th Birthday who meet LINK's referral criteria.
- Youth Inclusion and Support Panel Service (Children's Fund - Youth Justice Board): This new Youth Justice preventative initiative targets children and young people aged 8-13 years at risk of offending. These children voluntarily access a multi-agency panel where an Individual Support Plan can be drawn up in order to support the child and their family. This individual plan can incorporate a wide variety of help from a number of different agencies; these agencies will work together to address risk and aim to prevent any escalation of anti-social behaviour.
- Youth Support Project: Offers help and support to young people from their 13th Birthday to their 15th Birthday who are experiencing problems in their lives - at home, at school, in the community who are at risk of / or have offended.
Referrals
Referrals stem from a number of agencies including health, social services, youth offending team, police, schools and the children themselves if appropriate. Referral criteria's vary across the projects but the main focus of all is the preventative and voluntary nature of service provision, targeting children at risk or in need.
How can I be involved?
If you are interested in volunteering at LINK Youth Support, please contact for further details.
Contact LINK Youth Support
- Tel: 01803 557870
- Email: csenquiries@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax:
