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Exam stress. Social media ‘perfection’. High rents. Student debt. Finding a job. Relationship issues. Life can be challenging for young people in Sussex today. However, help is out there. Within the region, there is a wide variety of organisations working with and for young people, offering them advice, support and guidance on everything from sexual health to bereavement to finances, as well as opportunities to make new friends, socialise, learn new skills and take part in fun and life-affirming activities.
A volunteer-led community radio station based in central Brighton, providing a mix of eclectic musical genres and involving the local community.
Committed to positive social change through personal development and community building, this charity offers mentoring and support to young men to make the difficult transition to adulthood through rites-of-passage-based development work.
An independent charity supporting young people and communities in rural Sussex especially those at risk of isolation or disadvantage, providing a community-led housing group, working to improve rural services and offering a range of projects to create a thriving rural Sussex.
One of 43 Active Partnerships across England working to increase participation in sport and physical activity with a view to transforming lives. Offers information on staying active at home, fitness classes, events, and a directory of local clubs by sport.
Working to support and connect with under-26s in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and provide advocacy services, workshops, and support for parents/carers.
Supporting families with disabled children and young people aged 14 to 25 across Sussex, Amaze offers information and advice, a helpline and support groups for SEND young people, young women and those with learning disabilities.
A Brighton & Hove-based project promoting mental and physical wellbeing, cultural exchange and empowerment through Brazilian arts and music, especially capoeira, and workshops for young people who are disadvantaged, hard to reach or have learning disabilities.
A Brighton-based charity using music and creativity to make a real difference to young people’s lives, offering free music workshops, tech training and talent development both online and in person.
A South Coast not-for-profit organisation working from Brighton to Bognor Regis, offering a range of youth-led projects and support to 16- to 25-year-olds to help them grow, develop and move forward with their lives.
Brighton City Partnership for Education
An online portal serving 13 local and maintained nurseries, primaries, infant and junior schools, offering information about services to schools, access to training courses and best practice to enhance children’s experience of school.
Brighton & Hove Youth Collective
A ‘one-stop shop’ for everything young people aged 12 to 25 need to know about what to do across Brighton & Hove, with information on events, clubs, advice and counselling.
A hub for all young people aged five to 19 (with a focus on the 13 to 19 age group) providing a varied programme of events, activities and support as well as facilities for the community and a youth theatre.
Runs weekly youth clubs offering a variety of activities to nurture local under-18s, as well as holiday projects, trips out, facilities for community use and support for young carers.
C360 is the East Sussex County Council website for young people, offering expert advice and information on everything from how to choose your career to where to get contraception.
A church based in Portslade undertaking outreach projects in the local community including support for those who are homeless or in crisis, a homework club, parent and toddler, pre-school and youth groups, and an over-50s lunch club
Providing a safe space for 11- to 16-year-olds living in Brighton’s Hollingdean and Stanmer neighbourhoods to socialise, have fun, engage in many types of activities and gain valuable social and life skills.
Crawley Community Youth Services
A community-driven service delivering resources, advice and opportunities to learn practical and emotional life skills in a safe environment for 11- to 19-year-olds living in Ifield, Langley Green, Gossops Green and Bewbush.
A West Sussex-based community interest group that encourages adults and young people to explore their creativity through arts, culture, heritage and the environment, offering exhibitions, a community garden, heritage trails, wellbeing walks and in-school projects.
Providing leisure activities for 11- to 19-year-olds (up to 25 for SEND young people) living in and around Woodingdean and Rottingdean to help them grow as individuals and improve their life chances.
Dragonflies Bereavement Project
Free support for under-18s and their families living in Hastings, Rother, Eastbourne and the surrounding area who are about to or have experienced bereavement, including peer support groups, therapeutic activities, parent awareness sessions and one-to-one counselling.
A non-profit community organisation working in West Sussex to offer under-21s opportunities to explore their imaginations and perform in drama or musical productions and more.
Eastbourne Youth Work Provision
Providing a variety of activities and clubs for under-25s with mild and moderate special educational needs and other issues across Eastbourne.
East Sussex Youth Offending Team
Made up of staff recruited from the police, probation, Children’s Services, health and the voluntary sector, the team works to prevent young people aged 10 to 18 from offending and support young offenders back into education and training.
A youth-led drop-in centre for eight to 18-year-olds in Crawley offering a café, games consoles and laptops as well as activities including sports, cooking, crafts, yoga, pool, and much more.
Provides inclusive out-of-school play and leisure opportunities for young people aged from four to 25 with disabilities at venues in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex, including high-quality, affordable clubs, holiday schemes and family events and activities.
Support for children and families in Sussex experiencing difficult situations ranging from mental and physical ill health to bereavement and family break-up, including one-to-one help, group support and structured play activities.
Fresh Start Community Association
A Brighton-based charity offering practical and emotional support for individuals and families who want to help themselves, including homework and drama clubs, mentoring and regular activities to build confidence, empower families and strengthen communities.
A Hove-based project supporting local residents to come together, offering projects for 13- to 25-year-olds including weekly street-work, a sexual health clinic, community projects, holiday activities and a low-cost IT training scheme.
Councillors range in age from 13 to 21 and work to make a difference and empower young people in Hastings by campaigning on issues relevant to them such as mental health awareness, LGBTQ services and cheaper transport.
Hastings & Rother Youth Work Provision
Providing a variety of activities in Hastings & Rother for eight to 25-year-olds with different needs, including LGBTQ, a girls’ club and a youth club for children with autism
Offering positive activities for over-16s, including a range of short courses, volunteering opportunities, a weekly youth club, a young carers’ club and support services through its partnership with local organisations.
An Anglican church and registered charity that includes a youth wing for 11- to 18-year-olds and a children's summer holiday club.
Drop-in centres in Eastbourne, Hastings and New Haven offering local 14- to 25-year-olds the chance to have a chat in confidence about problems they are having, or seek advice on mental wellbeing, jobs, education and housing.
Provides grief support to five to 17-year-olds across Sussex dealing with the death of a loved one or coping with a family member with a life-limiting condition, including a helpline, peer-to-peer support, group sessions, and links to useful organisations.
A Hailsham-based youth project providing informal drop-in sessions for under-25s, with staff on hand to offer support with job searches, applications, interview skills, CV writing, and finding employment or apprenticeship opportunities.
Help, advice and extra support with job hunting and benefits for over-16s in offices across the region. Just type in your postcode to find your nearest office.
A Christian charity working across Eastbourne delivering projects including winter night shelters for homeless people, supported accommodation and woodwork skills workshops to help people have a more stable lifestyle and raise hope for a better future.
Lewes & Wealden Youth Work Provision
Offering a range of activities and clubs for eight to 25-year-olds living in the area, including special groups for young women and men, LGBTQ sessions and various clubs.
Mobile Community Hub (formerly The Snack Wagon)
A mobile youth support service that operates across the Horsham district, offering 13- to 18-year-olds an informal, safe meeting space to grab a free snack, chat and get advice from youth workers.
Providing 16- to 17-year-olds across the UK with an opportunity to step outside their comfort zone and build confidence and skills for work and life by taking on new challenges ranging from abseiling to volunteering activities.
A holistic youthwork service based in central Brighton providing mentoring, homework support, after-school activities and community volunteering opportunities for young people aged 10 to 18.
Youth and community activities including youth clubs and projects for under-21s in the Portslade area.
A Burgess Hill-based youth club offering a range of activities to nine to 16-year-olds, including access to table tennis, snooker, games consoles, craft sessions, games and sports
A safe space for young people of all races and backgrounds living in and around the Hastings and St Leonards area to find out more about careers in creative arts, music or the media with the support of experts, teachers and peer trainers.
A music and social welfare charity transforming lives across the South East through music workshops, working with vulnerable and homeless under-21s, as well as people with dementia.
A youth club in Rye offering eight to 17-year-olds the opportunity to take part in activities, workshops and events, and to have fun and socialise.
Promoting wellbeing and keeping children safe by raising safety awareness, preventing bullying, developing support networks and building confidence and resilience. Services include family support, school and community workshops for parents and young people, and a home safety equipment scheme.
A social and support group for young people in East Sussex aged 14 to 19 who identify as LGBT or are questioning their sexuality and/or gender.
Based in Lewes, Starfish works with nine to 21-year-olds to find their musical voice and develop their creativity. Within a band-practice setting, they explore writing songs and jamming, encouraging them to communicate ideas, share skills and make decisions.
A local Youth For Christ Centre Working with under-21s in Crawley to help them develop to their full potential through worship and various sports and activities.
East Sussex-wide specialist treatment services for under-19s misusing alcohol and drugs, including assessments, information on treatment options, advice to parents and carers, and access to other specialist services.
Supports a membership of more than 140 youth clubs and organisations throughout Sussex, delivering staff and volunteer training and resources, and providing rewarding activities for local young people.
Sussex Community Development Association
Works across East Sussex supporting community-based projects aimed at addressing the needs of those most vulnerable in the community, offering counselling, employment support, an advice-and-information hub, befriending and other services.
A club – with five groups across Sussex – for anyone aged 10 to 26 who loves the countryside, wants to make friends with similar interests, learn new skills and take part in fun, countryside-related activities.
Offers online courses across Sussex to help over-16s facing mental health challenges to take control of their own wellbeing and recovery, as well as the Discovery College, a place for young people in East Sussex to have new experiences and learn about emotional wellbeing
Drama training for six to 18 year-olds in locations throughout the region that aims to boost confidence and acting skills.
Offers one-to-one counselling and short group work for referred 13- to 16-year-olds living in West Sussex, and also provides information and advice on building confidence and social skills to attend group sessions.
Community-led children and young people’s services, including an after-school club, play schemes, youth clubs, holiday activities and one-to-one support for 11- to 19-year-olds in Brighton’s Tarner neighbourhood.
Provides opportunities for 11- to 17-year-olds in one of Brighton’s most deprived areas to take part in a wide range of activities from a purpose-built, state-of-the-art youth and community centre with outdoor sports facilities.
The Joff Peacehaven Youth Centre
Offering youth groups for 13- to 19-year-olds in Peacehaven that works to increase social, communication and independent living skills, including an LGBTQ group, sexual health and substance misuse resources, yoga and zumba classes, and more.
The Trust for Developing Communities
A charity tackling inequality in Brighton & Hove through youthwork for age 11-plus, including summer holiday, youth leadership and podcast schemes, to help individuals and communities tackle their issues and empower them to take control of their own lives.
Offers specialist counselling through schools in Seaford to meet the needs of students in primary and secondary education who are finding life challenging.
A peer support group for young people aged 13 to 25 who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual experiences, offering a chance to meet other young people with similar experiences, socialise and take part in activities, as well as parental support.
A list of West Sussex youth hubs offering groupwork courses, one-to-one support, information and advice, a chance to socialise and a range of arts, games and activities to inspire young people to make positive changes in their lives. Find your local hub.
Whitehawk After School Project
Provides affordable Ofsted-registered after-school, holiday and youth clubs, inclusive outreach play, and family fun days to support under-21s and their families living on the Whitehawk and Manor Farm Estates.
Provides services for young people in Eastbourne and Hailsham, including youth clubs, LGBTQ groups, supported housing, advice and guidance, as well as organising events to help local young people belong, contribute and thrive.
A safe space in Brighton, open on Friday and Saturday nights, to support anyone who has become intoxicated, distressed or injured during their night out.
Offers advice, support and guidance to young people aged 16 to 25 in Brighton and Hove on a range of topics from housing to family support and mediation, from sexual health and wellbeing to benefits money and more.
Working with under-25s across Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and Surrey who have been or are at risk being of sexual exploited to stay safe in their relationships online and in the community, also offering advice and information to parents/carers and professionals.
Provides 16- to 19-year-olds (and young carers up to the age of 25) across Brighton & Hove with free careers information, guidance and support to find the right college course, apprenticeship, training or job
Works in partnership with local schools, businesses and volunteers across Sussex to inspire and equip over-18s to learn and succeed through enterprise, by offering hands-on employability, enterprise and financial education programmes, resources and teacher training,
Youth Employability Service (East Sussex)
Helping 16 to 18 year-olds who are or are at risk of being NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) to move into education, training and work through offering careers advice, employability skills training and other jobseeker support from its offices in Hastings and Eastbourne.
Access to group work courses, one-to-one support, support groups, information, advice, guidance and other activities that aim to have a positive impact on the lives of over-18s across Horsham.
Working to support young people in care, care leavers and young parents under 18 in Brighton & Hove to speak out, be heard and know their rights through advocacy and independent visitor services. Young people can self-refer.