A YOUTH health service will offer free, tailored, impartial advice on a range of topics to anyone under the age of 25 at the South Eastern Regional College (SERC) Campuses.
The initiative is a result of a partnership between SERC and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT).
The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will allow them to work in partnership and alongside other community-based partners to operate the health advice service.
SERC, though their partnership with the SEHSCT, first opened the on-campus service back in 2012 with a focus on raising awareness and giving advice on general health topics as well as issues such as drugs, alcohol, smoking cessation, sexual health, and emotional health and wellbeing.
The service is available from 9:30am-12:30pm once a week at each of the college’s campuses at Bangor, Downpatrick, Lisburn and Newtownards with support from the County Down Rural Community Network, YMCA and The Link (Newtownards).
The signing ceremony, held at the College’s Downpatrick Campus was witnessed by college students, SERC staff and Trust representatives and was a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the service across the community.
SERC principal and chief executive Ken Webb explained: “This exciting milestone recognises our continuing focus on looking after the welfare of all of our learners and I have great pleasure in signing the Memorandum of Understanding. The Youth Health Advisory Service offers students the opportunity to access one-toone confidential support and free, impartial advice on a range of health issues, without having to wait to get an appointment with their GP. Working with health trust nurses and the community health practitioners, students have access to resources which focus on all aspects of health and wellbeing to help them make informed choices about their health.
“Our pastoral care programme encourages all our students to take responsibility for their health and well-being and the Youth Health Advice Service plays an important part in this.”