No5 Young People
No5 is a community- based organisation who have been offering free mental health support, counselling and preventative outreach support to young people (aged 11-25) and those around them since 1971. Their counselling sessions are provided by 65 fully trained volunteer counsellors or counsellors on placement – 65 counsellors offering sessions 5 days a week in Central Reading, local secondary schools, online and on the phone. Their counsellors come from all walks of life and backgrounds but all share a commitment to supporting young people.
Their vision is for a world that does not stigmatise children and young people’s mental health and accepts it as a normal part of human development.
Their mission is to provide early intervention services to prevent the development of more serious problems caused by mental or physical ill health or other challenging circumstances, by providing support and advice (in particular, but not exclusively, by providing professional counselling services), to children and young people and their families regardless of difference, background or identity who live, work or study in Reading and the surrounding area.
Their Operations team are made up of Lived Experience Young Leaders – young people and former service users who now have professional roles in the staff team, including leading their Young Ambassador Scheme – a group of young people and former service users who are part of co-designing and delivering their services.
They have created a series of reports that aim to provide valuable insights and information on various topics related to young people’s mental health, helping to educate and inform individuals, communities and organisations about the latest developments and best practices.