YSS – a history

2003 Worcestershire Young Carers (WYC) becomes part of YSS following a transfer from the Worcestershire Association of Carers. The focus on service user involvement significantly influences the way other YSS projects are delivered.

In partnership with West Mercia Probation Area YSS develops the Intensive Control and Change Programme (ICCP).This project was aimed at 18-20 year olds who were at risk of custody and involves volunteer mentors working alongside YSS staff in providing intensive supervision and support.

YSS develops a range of volunteer mentoring based projects across the West Mercia region and Warwickshire including the CONNECT resettlement project for 18-25 year olds and YISP (Youth Inclusion and Support Programmes) volunteer mentoring for 8-13 year olds.

YSS Head Office relocates to Quillgold House in Droitwich

2005 YSS adopts the principles of Service User Involvement across the whole organisation and commits to the Hear by Right Agenda published by the National Youth Agency.

YSS develops the ACCLAIM project in partnership with West Mercia Probation Area. This project aims to offer intensive supervision and support to those who are aged over 18 years and have been designated as Prolific and Priority Offenders (PPOs). The project takes into account the newly published Offender Management Model and pioneers new ways of partnership working between Probation and the Voluntary sector.

Rob Smith the YSS Chief Executive is appointed to sit on the NOMS (National Offender Management Service) voluntary sector advisory panel.

2006 YSS opens up a new office at Hadley in Telford

YSS starts to deliver mentoring services across the whole of Staffordshire for the Connect Project and also for a new innovative project with Staffordshire Probation and Police aimed at PPOs. YSS Staff are now based in Stoke and Stafford.

A YSS short film produced by ISIS media about YSS volunteers is screened at a national awards ceremony at the BAFTA headquarters in London.
To view this video, please click here

YSS is awarded £150k by the Lottery to develop the ARC (Accessing resources in the Community) project. Working with 10-17 year olds in Worcester and Hereford to help them access local positive activities and to support them influencing local policy around activities for young people.

YSS Awarded the contract to deliver the Shropshire Youth Inclusion and Support Programme (YISP)

2007 In partnership with Worcestershire County Council economic regeneration team and the Connexions service YSS takes on the development of the 'Blue Horizons' mentoring project to support young people in schools who come from Black and Minority Ethnic groups.

YSS opens new offices in Shrewsbury and Stoke

2008
HRH The Princess Royal becomes YSS Patron

YSS starts delivering services in Birmingham and the Black Country

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