Brighton’s largest youth advice service YAC is moving from its current location at Ovest House on West Street to new premises near London Road
From Monday 4 April YMCA DownsLink Group’s YAC project, which runs general and housing advice drop-ins for young people in Brighton & Hove, will be based at 11 St George’s Place, just down from St Peter’s Church.
The move will not disrupt the work of YAC, as it will happen over the weekend when the service is normally closed. The last day at the current location will be Friday 1 April with the drop-ins reopening as normal on Monday 4 April at the new premises.
YAC has been working in Brighton & Hove for over 22 years providing advice, support and guidance to local young people on a wide range of issues, including employment, mental wellbeing, benefits, sexual health and more. YAC is also the first place to go for housing advice for anyone under the age of 26 who is homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Every year over 2500 young people access the different advice and support services delivered by YAC. The move offers an exciting opportunity for YAC to expand their service and hopefully support even more young people. The new drop-in is very central and easy to find with a colourful youth friendly shop-front and layout.
YAC Advice Coordinator Cat Dyson said, “The move to 11 St George’s Place will give us a more visible and accessible location for young people to drop-in to. We feel this is really important and something that our service users have requested. We are very excited to relaunch YAC in its new location and to work closely with the local community by continuing to offer much needed support and advice to young people in Brighton & Hove”.
James, one of the young people accessing support from YAC, said “For me, YAC is a safe place to come and get advice on things I cannot share with family and friends. It helps me to know that I have somewhere to go to talk about certain issues that affect me and get the support and guidance I need”.
YAC Housing Advice drop-in (for 16-26 year olds) runs Mon-Fri, 9am-12pm and the general advice drop-in (for 13-25 year olds) is open Mon-Fri, 3pm-6pm.
