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Connexions Personal Advisers

Sometimes life can be difficult and in your teenage years there can be some tough decisions you have to make on a variety of issues like your school education, training, health, relationships and more. If you need somebody to turn to for help, you can talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser.

Personal Advisers are professionals - they won't judge you and everything you say to them (unless it is deemed to be a Child Protection issue where they will seek further advice in consultation with you) is in total confidence. They will give you the information you need on any choices and decisions you want help on.

Personal Advisers are available in school from Year 9 onwards and they can also be contacted at a range of other community access point venues in addition to the Kingston Connexions Centre. You can talk to generalist or specialist personal advisers.

Generalist Personal Advisers

Get general advice about issues such as:

• Career planning
• Jobs and training vacancies
• Writing CVs, covering letters and completing applications
• Applying to college, sixth form and university
• EMA forms and other benefits
• Volunteering opportunities
• Learning and work, including referral to appropriate support agencies
• Helping you overcome barriers you may face

Generalist Personal Advisers can also help you by acting on your behalf and working with your parents, carers and families.

Specialist Personal Advisers

You can talk to a specialist adviser on issues such as:

• Drugs and alcohol counselling
• Sexual health
• Housing and homelessness
• Emotional issues
• Teenage parents / young mums to be

There are also specialist advisers for:

Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD)
If you have learning difficulties or a disability, the LDD adviser can act on your behalf; help you make informed choices about further education, training and employment plants; and help you make changes in your life.

Employment and Training
The Employment and Training adviser can advise you on learning and working opportunities; give you information on personal development opportunities; point you towards services that are able to help you and overcome barriers to learning; refer you to appropriate agencies and organisations; act on your behalf with opportunity providers.

Connexions Direct

As well as contacting a Personal Adviser at your local Connexions centre or in your school, you can alternatively call Connexions Direct, a national helpline and chat to an Adviser anytime between 8am and 2am.