The Council’s Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS) is proud to announce its 10th Anniversary! Since their establishment on June 2, 2014, YEPS have played an integral role in supporting local young people (11-25 years old) of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
YEPS serves as a lifeline for over 10,000 young individuals each year. Offering support through our local schools and community-based youth work, YEPS officers provide a wide-range of support with things like mental health and wellbeing, homelessness prevention advice and guidance, relationships, money, rights based sessions, and more. The team at YEPS is there to make sure that no young person must face any of this alone.
The support does not stop when they leave school either. YEPS has a dedicated 16+ support programme that assists young people with transitioning into adulthood by supporting them with navigating the complexities of seeking further education, employment, and training. Here at RCT, we strongly believe that empowering young people to use their voice fosters resilience, confidence, and independence.
Councillor Tina Leyshon, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Youth Participation and Climate Change, said: “I am immensely proud to say that YEPS are celebrating their 10-year anniversary this month. Over the past decade, YEPS has been a beacon of hope for the young people of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“YEPS has made an awe-inspiring impact on our community by providing advice and support, community engagement, and working towards the empowerment of our local youth.
“As we celebrate this milestone, I want to extent my gratitude to the young people, families, officers, and volunteers who all have a part to play in this incredible journey.”
YEPS also host a range of FREE community-based activities for local young people (11-25) to get involved with, including:
- Youth clubs: YEPS provide local youth with a range of different youth clubs. These are vibrant spaces that encourage interaction, creativity, and personal growth. They allow young people to connect with one another and work on meaningful projects of their choice. Find out which Youth Clubs are based near you by clicking here.
- Mobile youth van: The mobile youth van is a new initiative which sees our YEPS branded van travelling to different areas across RCT, including schools, youth clubs, and other community-based activities. The van is there to provide information to young people as well as activities such as gaming, sports, and arts and crafts! Find out more about the van and future locations here.
- Street based sessions: These are based at various locations across RCT to meet the needs of young people.
- School holiday trips and activities: YEPS organise exciting and educational trips during school breaks, providing further opportunities for young people to learn and develop outside of school hours. Local activities are also organised for young people during school holidays
- Community drop-in: Whether seeking advice or simply looking for a friendly, YEPS provide community drop-in sessions where young people can access free support.
YEPS also provide opportunities for adults who are passionate about supporting young people and giving back to the community through voluntary roles. If you are interested in volunteering with YEPS, please get in touch with the team by emailing YEPSVolunteers@rctcbc.gov.uk. For more information, please visit: https://www.yeps.wales/about-us/volunteering-with-yeps/
For more information on YEPS, the work they do, or to get involved, please visit their website: https://www.yeps.wales/
You can also access their NEW mobile app here: https://www.yeps.wales/info/download-our-yeps-app/
Posted on 28/06/2024