As a young person, it's normal to want to try new things and take risks, but when it comes to drugs and alcohol, sometimes those risks can be dangerous and harmful.
We believe that if you have the right information, and understand the risks you are taking, then you will be able to make better choices for yourself. That’s where we come in.
WithYou delivers a range of drug and alcohol support services to young people which offer a safe and non-judgmental space to talk and get any help that you might need.
Whatever your situation, we are here to help, and there are lots of ways that we can work with you.
Beth’s inspiring story of resilience, from struggling with drug use and mental health to finding purpose in the NHS, shows just how powerful getting the right support can be.
"When I look back at how I am now compared to where I was, I feel I’m the person I always wanted to be." - Beth, 19, Grantham
Many young people who come to us just want some further information so that they can make safe and better choices. We would rather you got the right information from us than get information that might be false.
No lectures or opinions - we’ll give you facts and options so that you can make safer choices.
There are lots of ways you can get information from us. Our website has lots of useful information, some of which we’ve included in the resources list below.
You can contact your local young people's service. If we deliver a service in your area, you can find us using our service finder. If we don’t deliver in your area, you can search your local council website to find the provider who does.
Or, you can chat to one of our workers on webchat. We’re online between 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. You can still message us outside of these hours and we will get back to you as soon as we open again.
If you are someone who needs a bit of extra support then you will have the opportunity to work with one of our Young Persons Workers. This is where you have a worker who will meet with you regularly to help you work through some of the things you are struggling with.
We normally start this work by asking you some questions about your life, things you are worried about and things you might want to change. This is so that we can get an understanding of the areas we need to work on. Once we understand this, we will work with you to put a plan in place. The plan will be a list of sessions and actions that you and your worker will do together, to work on the things you are not happy about in your life.
You will meet with your worker regularly. How and when you do this is up to you because we want you to feel as comfortable as possible. You can come to our young people’s services or we can see you in a community location. For example, if you attend a youth club, school or college, then we could come and see you there if that’s where you feel comfortable. We’re also happy for you to bring a parent or another person you trust, if you feel nervous about coming to see us.
Some of the work we do is with groups of young people. This is where you will work on a specific issue with other young people who are struggling with something similar.
Group work is helpful because it helps you learn from other people’s experiences and shows you that you are not alone. Many of the young people who work in groups form strong bonds and friendships.
You will normally access a group programme if you are already working with a Young Persons Worker. They will talk to you about it, if they feel group work is right for you, and you can agree on the best plan with your worker.
In some of our services we have Peer Mentors, who are young people who have used our services and who want to support other young people by sharing their experiences.
When you work with us, you will have the opportunity to speak with a Peer Mentor, or you may want to become a Peer Mentor yourself.
To become a Peer Mentor, you will be someone who has used, or is using our services. We will give you training and support, and you will help us to design our services, become involved in delivering groups and activities and support other young people who work with us.
We also have a Young Ambassador Programme which helps our Peer Mentors, and other young people with lived experience, progress into paid jobs. This is where we will employ you in our services on an apprenticeship programme and you will develop your skills and experience in order to progress into a career supporting other people.
It’s important not to stop suddenly as you may experience significant withdrawal symptoms and this can be dangerous.
Our free and confidential services can help you detox safely or you can seek help from a medical professional like your GP.
If you are ready to get help, we’re here to support you.
If you would like to take steps to cut down your drug use, we have a range of self help resources that will give you the facts about different substances and support you on your journey.
