Introduction and how to use the toolkit
What the toolkit is for and how to find your way around it.
Start here
Choose the option that is most useful for you today.
Find a starting point for teachers, youth workers, faith leaders and other adults who support young people.
Find practical ideas for building connection, having conversations and supporting your family.
Use a short checklist to help you feel calm, curious and ready to listen.
What you will find here
- Build stronger relationships with young people.
- Find practical ideas for conversations, family life, wellbeing and support.
- Understand where to go next when you need more help.
- Return whenever a new question or challenge comes up.
- A training programme, or a substitute for proper safeguarding (child safety) training and supervision.
- A referral or assessment service. Where specialist support is needed, this resource points you to it.
- A diagnostic tool. It does not label young people, or define their needs for them.
- A one-size-fits-all script. It assumes you will adapt it to your setting and the young people you work with.
Who it is for
It is for anyone working with or caring for children and young people in any setting: faith groups, youth centres, schools, family settings, and beyond. Some chapters speak to families, some to professionals and organisations, and all of them are written to be read by anyone.
Ways to use this toolkit
Start with the option that fits what you need today.
Start with a quick check-in
Use the five-minute checklist (Chapter 3) before your next conversation. A shorter version is available for busy moments.
Explore the core ideas
Read the six principles (Chapter 2), then choose the conversation guidance (Chapter 8) and role-based starting point (Chapter 16) that fits your setting.
Use it with others
Bring young people, families and colleagues together around a shared question or activity (Chapter 12).
Find support and resources
Return to the directory (Chapter 17) for local organisations, useful tools and specialist support.