Who are Consulting Youth Advisors?
CYA is a group of young people (aged 10 to 25) who are passionate about improving emotional wellbeing and mental health services in ßÙßÇÂþ». We are a friendly and supportive group.
You can meet new friends with similar experiences and interests to you and get involved in projects to improve mental health services for young people.
What do CYA do?
CYA works closely with mental health services in ßÙßÇÂþ» to make sure young people’s voices are heard and that they have a real say in shaping the support they get.
- We meet twice a month to chat about important topics, socialise and share ideas about how to improve mental health support for young people.
- Sometimes we are joined by guest speakers who want to hear directly from young people and to share updates on different projects happening in ßÙßÇÂþ».
- We also plan exciting activities, such as pottery painting, escape rooms and trips to theme parks!
Who can join CYA?
CYA is open to young people aged 10 to 25 who live, work or go to school in ßÙßÇÂþ» and are passionate about emotional wellbeing and mental health!
You’re welcome whether you’ve used mental health services before or not – you don’t need a diagnosis to get involved!
What can I expect when I join a CYA meeting?
- We meet twice a month on Thursdays from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
- There are usually 6 to 10 CYA members and two friendly members of staff.
- You can join in-person or online – whatever works best for you!
- We send out an agenda a few days before the session so you know what we’ll be chatting about.
- It’s a chilled and friendly group. There’s no pressure to speak or take part if you don’t feel like it.
What are the benefits of joining CYA?
CYA is an opportunity for you to share your ideas, make a real difference and help shape mental health services for young people in ßÙßÇÂþ»!
A lot of the time young people can feel really out of control about what’s being done for them and the care that’s being given.
Having voice and participation basically makes them feel they have got a bit of control. It also gives us a space to voice our opinions.
CYA member
Joining CYA can also help with:
- Boosting your CV: Develop skills in teamwork, public speaking and problem-solving
- Socialising: Meet other young people with similar backgrounds and interests
I’ve made friends at CYA and I feel free to be myself.
CYA member
How do I get involved?
Want to know more about CYA or share feedback about mental health services in ßÙßÇÂþ»? Drop a message to cya@surreycc.gov.uk or follow us on Instagram @ourvoice surrey.
Interested in joining? .
Files available to download
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Youth services poster (PDF)
A ßÙßÇÂþ» Youth Voice poster signposting youth clubs and other services that are available for young people in ßÙßÇÂþ».