Introduction
Young people taking action (YPTA) known locally as The CYDS Project has been running for over ten years. Over this time the organisation has developed and grown to meet the needs of the young people it serves.
The CYDS Project is a young persons open access drop in centre for 13 to 29 year olds.
We provide a vital free resource for young people within the rurally isolated Suffolk Coastal area.
The service offers information advice and guidance on issues, which could have a detrimental
effect on a young persons ability to reach their full potential.
Specially trained youth workers assist young people in creating a personalized tool box of skills
to equip them to deal effectively with the transition into adulthood as well as helping them to find
an individual support network so that young people feel safe to take part in new experiences
and move outside their comfort zone so they can grow and develop.
Charity background.
CYDS was set up in 1997 to support young people within the Leiston Saxmundham and Alderburgh
area and began as a result of the complex needs of the young people.
The community education youth centre was based on the high school site and was therefore
an inappropriate setting to meet with the vulnerable young people who particularly needed support
but were excluded from school (and therefore banned from the site) and suffering
chronic socioeconomic marginalisation.
The founders procured a town centre location within the small market town of Leiston
and with the help of a dedicated committee and army of volunteers and members
as well as a loyal staff team an old hairdressers became a young person friendly drop in centre
which offered up to date information and support on the issues which were effecting their lives.
Since then the CYDS grown and developed making sure it is as vital today
as it was over ten years ago while maintaining its core beliefs:
‘to aid young people to achieve their potential through personal development.’
‘to establish an ongoing training programme for young people to become youth workers
and outreach workers within the project.’
‘to provide access to agencies in the field of promotion of information advice and counselling
services relating to drugs, alcohol, sexual health, housing, welfare and benefits.’
‘to promote the informal computer training, adult basic education and assist with job seeking.’
