Talkback
This charity aims to open up a world of possibilities for people with learning difficulties and autism. Their HQ is in Amersham, with work split between High Wycombe and Aylesbury. They offer education programmes for young people aged 16-25 that include home skills such as cooking, training to travel independently on public transport, work experience in local companies and opportunities to study for qualifications in carpentry and joinery.
For adults aged 20+, they also provide work experience at the town centre Refresh shop, Wycombe Food Hub and in their own ‘ChaTea Café’ at St Mary and St George church in Rutland Avenue, open to the public on Tuesday mornings 10.30am-12 noon. This adult social care provision also offers skilled woodwork, including making commissioned pieces such as the planters recently installed at Sands. Gardening, sports and wellbeing sessions are also available.
Head of Adult Services, Neil Sainsbury, says the 60-70 people they work with in High Wycombe are valued, just like everyone else. They enjoy the same things: sport, drama, shopping and having fun. They want all the opportunities that life can bring and have so much to offer.
For more information, to donate or to discuss offering work experience, please visit talkback-uk.com.
Youth Enquiry Service (YES)
Established in Wycombe by Martin Skinner in 1982, YES has been based at the north end of Frogmoor since 1997.
Run by five members of staff and a team of 18 volunteers, YES is a non-judgemental and confidential space that offers professional counselling and therapies, relationship and sexual health guidance, free contraception and pregnancy testing, peer mentor support, and general help with CVs, form filling, accessing benefits and more. Unlike NHS resources, you can walk in and see someone straight away, while courses of up to 12 sessions of therapy are available. All are free.
It’s common for YES to see young people with issues such as feelings of anxiety or social isolation, worries about family, unemployment or homelessness, being overwhelmed by complex paperwork, or struggling with a diagnosis of disability, depression or neurodivergence. The staff stress that no problem is too big or small; just walk in and see if they can help. It’s been proven that early intervention in almost any problem is transformational.
It’s designed to be as friendly, accessible and welcoming as possible, recognising that the approximately 300 young clients (aged 11-35) they see annually are often confused and worried. Most importantly, the staff are experts at simply listening.
YES is open for drop-ins every Monday to Friday, 12-6pm. For more information, visit yeswycombe.org or call 01494 437373.
NB We want to clarify that Wycombe Food Hub, featured in the last issue, is a CIC rather than a registered charity.
