Teenagers 'failing to find help'

Many young people do not know how to access services for help

Thousands of young people in the South East do not know where to find advice on issues like drugs, pregnancy and debt, a report has said.

A study by The Prince's Trust found 89% of young people aged 14 to 25 surveyed believed there were gaps in local services.

This meant many socially excluded youngsters had no idea where to turn when they needed advice on matters including sex, pregnancy, alcohol, drugs and financial problems.

Almost half were confused about where to go for help outside the family and 16% said they failed to access any help at all.

Sometimes it gets too much and you can't deal with it yourself any more Kelli Robb

Disadvantaged young people were also far less likely to ask schools, colleges or teachers for help, the survey found.

The Reaching the Hardest to Reach - Nowhere to Turn? report was based on interviews with more than 900 of the UK's "hardest to reach" young people.

Terry Ryall, regional director for The Prince's Trust in the South East, said: "Young people who are particularly disadvantaged and who need help are not aware of local services that can give them the support they need."

He said it was vital youth services made it a priority to reach the most marginalised young people.

Youth suicide

"Otherwise we will continue to experience one of the world's highest levels of youth suicide, teenage pregnancy and drug, alcohol and substance abuse," he said.

Teenager Kelli Robb said she struggled to find people to help her with finances, accommodation and a job after she was forced to leave home at 16.

She said: "I think you just learn to cope with it on your own if you've got no-one to turn to - you just deal with it yourself.

"But sometimes it gets too much and you can't deal with it yourself any more.

"You either just break down or you just go looking."

The report said organisations including councils and youth groups needed to engage more closely with young people to see what they really needed.