PCC visits Reading Youth Counselling Service

On Friday (10/11), Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, visited No5 Young People to find out how almost £10,000 of funding from the PCC’s Community Fund is helping to support young people at risk of permanent exclusion from school.

Based in Reading, No5 provides free counselling services and mental health support for young people aged 11-25 who live, work or study in the RG postcode area. The charity works with young people from all backgrounds but has a specific programme working to support young people at risk of permanent exclusion from school.

The project sees specially trained Inclusion Support Counsellors working intensively, 1:1, with young people in Years 7-9 who are identified as at risk of permanent exclusion.

Following his visit, Matthew said: “It was a pleasure to meet Alyson and Carly and learn more about No5’s inspiring work with young people.

“We know that exclusion from school increases a young person’s risk of becoming involved in serious crime and, by extension, the criminal justice system so I was really pleased to have supported their Reducing the Risk of Permanent Exclusion from School programme with a £9,930 grant from my Community Fund.”

Carly Newman, Operations and Relationships Manager at No5, said: “We are so grateful to the PCC for the funding to support the delivery of this programme into its fourth year. It was wonderful to spend time with Matthew to both celebrate the successes of the programme so far, and to situate this work and its outcomes within the wider context of No5’s preventative outreach and alternative mental health support offer”.

Since its launch in 2019, the Reducing the Risk of Permanent Exclusion from School programme has supported 101 young people. The funding from the PCC will help support a further 25 12-14 year olds in the 2023/24 academic year.