Young people and family services

Bexley Adolescent Support Service (BASS)

Bexley Adolescent Support Service works with 8-17 year olds across Bexley, providing one to-one support at home, in school, or anywhere the young person feels safe.

We’ve designed the service to help young people with all kinds of support needs, whether they’re having difficulty managing their relationships, getting into trouble at school or having problems at home that are affecting their education.

Our support workers make young people feel valued and listened to. For up to 12 weeks, we help them to develop the social, emotional and relationship skills they’ll need throughout life.

Creative approaches are used to engage with even the hardest-to-reach young people, building connections through activities they are passionate about. We also work alongside other practitioners and services to develop the young person’s relationships with their family, community and school. Download our leaflet here

How to make a referral

To find out more about how our service can help, call 0800 567 7699 or email bass@porchlight.org.uk

BeYou service for LGBT+ young people

Porchlight's BeYou service offers a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space where young LGBT+ people can meet to socialise, have fun and help each other. This includes regular meet ups across Kent as well as one-to-one support.

How to make a referral

There is a dedicated BeYou website with lots of free resources and advice. Any questions, don't hesitate to call the free Porchlight number call 0800 567 7699 for more information.

Porchlight Adolescent Wellbeing Service (PAWS)

This service is for 10-17 year olds in Thanet who are experiencing anxiety or similar issues, a breakdown in family communication, or a breakdown in relationships with their school or peers.

The Porchlight Adolescent Wellbeing Service gives young people support to improve their mental health, emotional wellbeing and communication skills. This is done by helping them to build resilience and to develop the necessary skills to achieve their goals.

We're working with the NHS Kent Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (North East London Foundation Trust) to deliver the Porchlight Adolescent Wellbeing Service.

To make a referral or find out more

Referrals must be made through the NHS Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).

If you are a professional looking to find out more, email the Porchlight Adolescent Wellbeing Service at paws@porchlight.org.uk

If you are a parent or carer looking to refer a young person for support, please speak to their GP, school or college. If the young person is already receiving support from other professionals (such as the Early Help team), they can make a referral on the young person’s behalf to the NHS Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service.

Emergency support

If any young person is experiencing a mental health crisis and requires urgent support, the NHS Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service has a 24-hour helpline – 0800 011 3474.

Substance Misuse Family Resettlement Service

Family and friends are vital to the successful rehabilitation of people with convictions. That’s why our resettlement service, run in collaboration with The Forward Trust, works with substance misuse prison clients and their families and significant others.

Support begins before the expected release date so that everyone is prepared for the service user’s return to the home or the local community. Using an approach that draws on people’s strengths, our support workers give service users and their families the tools they need to help each other.

How to make a referral

To find out more about how our service can help, call 0800 567 7699.

Safeguarding - how we work

Porchlight is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all those it supports, read more here.