York College receives the ‘You’re Welcome’ award

York College Sexual Health Drop-In has been accredited against ‘You’re Welcome’ quality criteria for making health services young people friendly. York College is the fifth college in the Yorkshire and Humber area to receive this award. The Department of Health quality award aims to improve acceptability, accessibility and quality of health services for young people aged 11 to 19.

To achieve the ‘You’re Welcome’ award the Sexual Health Drop-In service was assessed against a number of quality criteria ranging from ease of access to the involvement of young people in the planning and evaluation of services. The assessment culminated in a visit by NHS North Yorkshire and York who oversee the process locally.

Graeme Murdoch, Deputy Principal at York College comments: “The York College Student Services team has worked hard to ensure that our students can access appropriate sexual health services on campus. They also worked in partnership with the York NHS Foundation Trust who had faith in our health care provision and sponsored the College through the application process. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support.”

Katie Needham, Consultant in Public Health and sexual health lead for NHS North Yorkshire and York said: “Young people often face barriers to accessing health services and particularly those geared towards sexual health. Access to good quality sexual health education and services is crucial to reducing the number of unplanned teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia. The You’re Welcome quality criteria sets out principles that help services become young people friendly and ultimately improve the sexual health of young people attending the College.

York College has shown great enthusiasm and commitment to achieve this accreditation and I would like to congratulate them on their success. I am sure that their involvement of young people will continue to strengthen services within the College and will remain an integral part of their ethos.”

York College Sexual Health Drop-In will hold the You’re Welcome accreditation for three years before re-assessment.