Who Are We?
The Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS) provides the statutory Youth Service for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. This service is provided by a workforce of qualified staff made up of school-based workers, community based youth workers, specialist youth work teams and skilled part time staff.
What Do We Offer?
YEPS offers young people aged 11-25 access to a variety of FREE activities across a number of schools and youth settings. These include afterschool activities and youth clubs. Youth clubs currently run between 6pm and 8pm Monday to Friday. Young people can get involved by seeing a YEPS worker in schools, colleges, or via the website. YEPS provide information, advice and guidance to young people on a one to one basis (referral work) and/or group sessions.
YEPS provision and support is offered through:
- School based youth work
- 16+ specific support
- Mental Health & Wellbeing interventions
- Homelessness Advice & Guidance
- Transitional work into Education, Employment & Training
- Rights based sessions
- Community based activities including youth clubs, mobile youth van, street based sessions, school holiday trips and community drop ins
How Can I Be Referred?
You can be referred for one to one support in several different ways:
- Through your school.Speak to a member of staff
- Through your Social Worker
- Through the Resilient Families Service
- Through the Attendance and Wellbeing Service
- Through CAHMS
- Parents and Carers can make a referral on behalf of a young person
- Self-referrals are accepted if you are over 18
Community based activities are mostly on a drop-in basis, so just turn up! There are also trips and activities that you can book onto. A full calendar of activities can be found on the YEPS Website or App. You can search for the YEPS App on your Apple or Play Store.
What Happens When I’ve Been Referred?
Once you have been referred, your case will be discussed by our professionals and we will decide whether YEPS can offer the right support for you at this time. Your referrer and your parent/carer will receive a letter to let you know if your referral has been accepted or rejected. If you self-referred, only you will receive this letter. The young person will need to consent to the referral.
What Happens if My Referral is Accepted?
Once you have notification that your referral has been accepted you will be allocated a caseworker. This person will usually offer you support for 6-12 weeks. The support can take place in school, at home or within the community, it can even take place over a cup of tea in your favourite coffee shop if that is what you’d prefer.
What Happens if I Miss Appointments?
You will need to engage with us in order for us to help you. If you cannot attend an appointment you will need to let your caseworker know so they can reschedule another date. If you do not attend multiple appointments your referral will be closed and your referrer and/or parent or carer will receive a letter to notify them.
I Have Had Support From YEPS In The Past, Can I Be Referred Again?
YEPS offer support for a wide range of issues and if you need different support to what you previously received, another referral will be considered at any point in time. If you need support for the same issue, you will have to wait 4 months before another referral will be considered.
How to Contact Us
Telephone: 01443 281436
Email: yeps@rctcbc.gov.uk
Website: https://www.yeps.wales/
You can also contact us on our socials: