Awards go to advice project for young

AN INFORMATION, advice and support project for young people in Cornwall has been given two awards in recognition of the quality of its service.

Share – which has offices across Cornwall – has achieved an advice quality standard and the matrix standard following inspections carried out by independent assessors.

The advice quality standard was awarded by the Community Legal Service.

Its report found young people could be assured of receiving a free, confidential service, based on meeting their needs, and could depend on staff to provide the accurate information they required to make decisions that were right for them on matters such as benefits, employment rights, debt, health, housing and homelessness.

The matrix standard was awarded in recognition of the high quality of information, advice and guidance Share delivered to young people.

Councillor Neil Burden, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for children's services, welcomed the two awards.

He said: "Even when we are older in years we still need to seek advice from people we can trust.

"However, in our formative years seeking guidance and support is far more daunting so for Share to be available for our young people in Cornwall, and now given such accolades by these two inspections, gives both our young people and our Share workers confidence that much of what is being delivered is of a high standard and the advice appropriate to the situation.

"So to our young people, please use this free service – remember a problem shared is a problem halved and that goes for young and old alike."

Share offices are based in Young People's Centres in Penzance, Camborne, Truro, Newquay, St Austell and Bodmin. There are also Share outreach services in Helston, Bude, Callington and Launceston.

For more information call Freephone 0800 181033.