Supporting hundreds of young people, parents and professionals each year, YPI is the leading youth counselling charity in Basingstoke. We provide Mental Health and emotional support to young people aged 11 to 25 years old and parents of all ages through a range of interventions including 1-to-1 counselling sessions, group work and psycho-educational activities. We pride ourselves on being a locally run charity with a strong community focus. Throughout our 20-year history we have actively partnered with a variety of local community groups to continuously improve the services available to young people and parents; developing new services specifically aimed at areas of deprivation or need.”

After reviewing some incredible charities submitted for our 2021 Charity of the Year, our team Equip has selected YPI Counselling as our Charity of the Year 2021! YPI Counselling is a youth counselling charity situated in Basingstoke. They provide counselling for young people aged 11–25-year-olds, 12 session free mentoring for ages 10 – 19-year-olds, 12 week free mentoring for young parents and care leavers ag0ed 17 – 25 years-old and specialist counselling.

Formed 20 years ago, YPI Counselling started providing advice and support as well as counselling to young people in the Basingstoke and Deane area. With reform in November 2003, YPI Counselling decided to focus on counselling only. In 2009, YPI Counselling moved to The Orchard on White Hart Lane in Basingstoke; allowing them to increase available counselling sessions from a secure office with an inner counselling room.

We look forward to working with YPI Counselling and helping raise funds to provide free of charge counselling for the young people of Basingstoke and Deane.  On average it costs £40 per hour of counselling which equates to about £240 per young person for a course of sessions. For each £240 raised we will be helping to support life changes for young people and those around them; by supporting the funding of counselling for mental health and emotional support.

We will be doing everything we can to raise funds for YPI Counselling over 2021, coming up with new and exciting ways during this pandemic year.

Site Equip have many exciting COVID friendly fundraising ideas throughout 2021, starting off with asking you to donate the cost of one pint to our charity of the year! Later in the year the team will be getting sporty, creative and baking, to support this fantastic charity.