Changing the odds in favour of young people

Established in 1949, Young Devon is a progressive charity that exists to "change the odds in favour of young people".  Challenging negative stereotypes and campaigning shoulder-to-shoulder with young people, Young Devon's primary objective is to enhance lives and promote opportunity for those least likely to have their voices heard.

Our team of 150 staff put young people at the centre of everything they do; delivering 13500 sessions with young people, putting roofs over the heads of 200 young vulnerable people every night; giving advice and support to 2400 young people through our network of YES Centres across Devon, delivering over 4000 hours of counselling to 700 young people, supporting our membership of 60 voluntary youth groups as well as promoting opportunities for young people and adults to become active volunteers.

Three key challenges sit at the heart of Young Devon to which all our work relates:

1.     To promote and support a quality of life experience, enabling young people to become resilient and succeed in their right to enjoy safe, healthy and happy lives.

2.     To secure young people's right to participate and be meaningfully involved in society and to influence decision makers who have the power to impact on their lives.

3.     To invest in young people, assisting them in building their life skills, confidence and motivation; and to create opportunities for them to make an active and valued contribution to their communities.

Young people can access Young Devon services in Exeter, Exmouth, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Ivybridge, Tavistock, Okehampton, Buckfastleigh, Ilfracombe and Bideford as well as via outreach workers in the more rurally isolated communities.

In addition, Young Devon supports young people and adults to become volunteers as well as offering a range of support services to other voluntary sector youth clubs, groups and projects.

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