About us Why we exist Our history Our history in brief 2021 YSS continues to operate across the area of West Mercia and to deliver an array of services to the most vulnerable individuals in our community. Despite the covid-19 pandemic, YSS currently running services, are still making a substantial impact. During 2021, YSS developed its theory of change. YSS’s impact focuses on developing people’s emotional resilience so they can thrive and feel that they belong within their local community. This is done by looking at the emerging needs within our community and taking action to address them as demonstrated below. 2019 In 30+ years we have developed a strong track record of engaging and motivating some of the most under-supported people in society. In our history we have built up a number of specialities surrounding key strands that run through all of our services, including Employability, Education and Training and Mental Health Support. YSS currently delivers 17 services and makes a difference to over 2,000 people a year. 2013 YSS gains its largest single contract to deliver early help services, through a service called EnHance, comissioned by Shropshire Council, for young people and their families aged 0-19 years. YSS drops Youth Support Services from it name, becoming YSS, as services expand to support young adults, adults and families. 2011 YSS secures four years funding from the Lloyds Bank Foundation to increase the knowledge and understanding of YSS staff and volunteers around mental health illness for people in the Criminal Justice System. YSS employs a qualified mental health practitioner who is also a Mental Health First Aid Trainer. YSS also becomes a registered UK centre for Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). Read more about our work surrounding mental health here. 2008 HRH The Princess Royal became our patron. Click here to read more. 2003 YSS is a delivery partner for an innovative ESF funded service called Connect, managed by West Mercia Probation Trust, delivering through the gate support for people serving prison sentences of 12 months or less across the West Midlands. Connect offered joined up services, a collaborative approach and achieved impressive outcomes in the five years of delivery. 2000 After changing its name from ISS to YSS (Youth Support Services) in 1994, YSS is registered as an independent charity and company limited by guarantee. The first chair of Trustees is Tricia Bradbury MBE DL JP. 1999 YSS secures funding from the Youth Justice Board to deliver a Bail Support Service across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, and funding to pilot a volunteer Appropriate Adult service for those being detained by the Police. Both services support those aged between 10 and 17 years old. Read more about Appropriate Adult here. 1986 ISS (Intensive Support Scheme) was formed with a management board consisting of representatives from Social Services, Youth Services, Education, Probation, Police and Magistrates and hosted under the umbrella of the Worcester Diocesan Board for Social responsibility. A pioneering emergency overnight placement (EOP) service was developed for 10 – 17 year olds in custody detained by Police pending a court hearing. This meant that they were not kept in a Police Cell overnight and allowed for a detailed assessment of their circumstances prior to attending a first court hearing.