North Yorkshire Youth & NYP

🤝  Working Together for North Yorkshire’s Young People – and you help North Yorkshire Youth to help us? 🤝 

At North Yorkshire Police (NYP), we’re proud to work alongside North Yorkshire Youth who support, mentor and empower young people across our communities.

The key behind this partnership is our focus on early intervention and prevention — which often means stepping-in early with enhanced help and signposting to guidance, agencies, opportunities and partner services. Efforts that facilitate solutions before problems grow or help to mitigate problems that are growing can make all the difference to the prospects and future of young people.

 Real examples from the front-line can be found in Whitby where our Neighbourhood Policing team have made multiple referrals to the North Yorkshire Youth charity for some of the children and families we work closely with. Or, for example, following several encounters with a young person who appears to be heading down the wrong path — perhaps getting involved in low‑level anti‑social behaviour in town, or mixing with negative influences — can lead us to make such referrals to North Yorkshire Youth services.

Their Change Direction service supports young people aged 10–17 who may be at risk of entering the criminal justice system. This gives them access to targeted support with trusted adults and can lead to structured activities and a safe space to talk about what’s going on in their lives and what challenges might be behind the behaviour. Often, that early conversation, intervention and diversion - when matched with the right support at the right time - can make a huge difference to the life and trajectory of the child. Early-intervention and prevention efforts like this not only help the young person and their family, but seek to reduce demand on local policing resources, helping local police to deliver a better service for all. Win-win!

North Yorkshire Youth also run something we often dub “the Buddy Scheme” which we have also referred children too… children who may just need that extra little support but might not need to "Change Direction". They also help manage local youth clubs, outreach sessions, school visits and community projects, creating safe spaces where young people can thrive, build confidence and feel heard.  

But, all of this is only possible if they have the staff and volunteers they need. 

Right now, North Yorkshire Youth are seeking more volunteers for their Youth Buddy Network, particularly across the North Yorkshire coast areas, including Whitby. 

Here, you might be able to help North Yorkshire Police, by helping North Yorkshire Youth. 

To find out more about their Buddy Network, visit the North Yorkshire Youth website and check out their poster asking for new volunteers: