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Walkways| Walkways | Walkways
Geographical Area: Brownhill, Chuckery and Palfrey
Age Range Min: 11
Age Range Max: 25
Gender Specific: no
| Culturally Specific: Not usually but projects have targeted specific B
Method of Access: Young People can self refer; they are also targeted through detached work and by going into schools and colleges. Young offenders and those young people excluded from school are also referred to the service.
| | Description | At Walkways qualified staff provide free counselling, information and support to young people addressing a range of issues including pregnancy, sexuality, general health, drugs and forced sex, using a confidential and non-judgemental approach.
Walkways is open from Monday to Fridays from 9:00am with various closing times from 16:00 to 21:30. Appointments have to be made to see counsellors but young people are welcome to drop in to see what is available. As well as generic counsellors, the service has one Drug and Alcohol counsellor who is able to provide a full range of honest information on drugs and alcohol as well as offering 1:1 counselling and support to any young person concerned about their drug and/or alcohol usage.
All work is based upon a person centred approach, the service does not condemn nor promote drug use and it doesn't judge a person on their life choices. Help and support is offered to each young person in making the changes that they have decided upon. The counsellor works with needle exchange prescribing services to ensure that the young person involved is getting all the help and support they need. The service also works with targeted groups such as excluded young people and youth offenders and will assist with drugs education within schools and colleges by running training session for professionals and youth workers. If a young person requires treatment then they will be helped with a referral to Lantern House or Addaction in Walsall.
Detached youth work, targeting young people in the street and town centres forms a vital part of the work, telling them about services and handing out leaflets and information. The Walkways website also has a links page featuring useful websites and organisations.
A recent project called 'Time to Talk’, to promote the benefits of counselling was aimed at Black and Asian young people, with one group writing song lyrics and producing a cd.
A Peer Support programme has been introduced in 4 schools. This involves groups of up to 15 young people attending a two day course where they are trained in communication and problem solving skills and learn about confidentiality issues and boundary setting. These young people are then able to go back and offer support to their peers in a very positive manner.
Walkways also runs training sessions and workshops for professionals and youth workers on a wide range of subjects including drugs awareness, raising self awareness and confidence building. A full range of topics can be obtained from Walkways. | | Mission Statement | | To provide a relevant, vibrant, free and confidential support and information service for young people which will contribute to the well being of all young people aged 11 - 25 years olds in the borough of Walsall through detached youth work, drugs and alcohol work and youth counselling. | | Staff Profile | | 7 qualified counsellors + 1 qualified Drugs and Alcohol counsellor. | | Linked Organisations | | Walkways has links with many of the local schools and the youth offending team. |
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