TheSite.org

Whatever your issue or concern, the internet is a great way to seek help. It offers complete anonymity, which is why TheSite.org is the first place that many 16 to 25 year-olds turn when they need confidential support and trusted guidance.

Each month, over 460,000 people visit TheSite.org and during busy marketing activity this has risen to over 1.2 million visitors a month. How do we do it?

Trusted content

TheSite.org provides over 2,000 factsheets and articles on all the important issues which young people face today: sex and relationships; drink and drugs; work and study; housing, legal and money issues; health and wellbeing; and travel and free time. Our editorial integrity and open approach means that young people can trust our content. The content is well-researched, balanced and non-judgemental.

Case study: online peer volunteer

Dharini Patel was one of YouthNet's first online peer advisors. She's been volunteering for us since May 2005.

"I saw a description of the role of online peer advisor on Year of the Volunteer website. I looked at do-it.org.uk and TheSite.org and thought the services they provided were useful and the websites were very accessible.

The opportunity suited me well as I've had experience writing, and love surfing the web for information. I also liked the idea of helping young people, but didn't feel I could volunteer for a telephone helpline like ChildLine as I wouldn't be able to detach my emotions instantly while on the phone.

I was so excited when I got a place on the training programme. The work has been even better than I thought. I thought I would be doing lots of 'dog's body' work, which I didn't really mind as it would be helping. But the work I've done has been really interesting.

I've learned loads and this really hit me recently when I started a project with someone at work. She was having problems with another colleague and talked about it to me. I didn't think I gave her much advice, just listened and pointed out a few things to her. A few days later we were talking about the work I'm doing for askTheSite, and she said: "no wonder you were so great at helping me with my problem, you really listened to me". I think this is because of the training I've received from the team.

I'm really proud of the work I'm doing. I feel like I am helping people, and TheSite.org. What is even better is that YouthNet itself is an organisation I can be proud to be a part of. I wouldabsolutely encourage others to get involved. In fact I passed on the details of the role to a friend a few weeks ago. I think it's such a great role that I convinced her to consider this over volunteering with another charity!"

Next steps

Reading an article on TheSite.org may be a big step a young person takes towards sorting out a problem. As it's often a first step, not a last step, we believe in providing our visitors with plenty of opportunities to explore their issue elsewhere. The Local Advice Finder service provides access to over 16,500 organisations who work with young people on the ground. TheSite.org also lists all the major telephone helplines available to young people.

Audio & Video content

Providing our information in different formats is key to YouthNet's vision. Our new Audio & Video section includes guides, interviews and vox pops. Users can watch and listen to these as a compliment – or alternative - to our written content. Multimedia content ensures that YouthNet continues to use innovative and entertaining methods of delivery that young people have come to expect from the websites they use.

Safe and vibrant community

Our busy community provides a safe, inclusive destination for any young person to chat and offer peer-to-peer support. Over 100,000 people contribute to and read the discussion boards every month and we've now had over 1,500,000 posts on the boards. Our skilled team of moderators is always on hand to ensure it remains a safe – yet, open - place for young people to discuss their issues.

Visitors to the site also participate in other ways: surveys, online focus groups and vox pops all successfully promote the voices of young people on the website, while some users have helped develop the site by submitting editorial content and e-cards.

Expert advice

The askTheSite service allows users to put personal questions to qualified experts. Every question is responded to in three working days and each answer is individually prepared. Users can choose to be alerted by email or text message when the answer is ready to ensure they receive their answer as soon as possible.

For askTheSite to work so well, we needed to build partnerships with expert organisations and people. They include Addaction, Brook, bss, Samaritans, SANELINE, Shelter, Yare Valley & District Citizens Advice Bureau, along with a team of respected relationship advisors and volunteers.

Asking a question is free to young people – the cost to us for providing each answer is £15. askTheSite answered its 10,000th question in 2006, with topics including: relationships; general health; sexual health; housing; mental and emotional health; money; legal and rights; and drugs and alcohol.

Learning from others

An archive of over 1000 questions and answers enables young people to see what others in similar situations are asking and – more importantly - what advice they receive. They can read questions and answers, but we ensure that personal identities always remain anonymous. In 2006, the number of young people reading archived Q&As each month reached just under 60,000.

"Our editorial integrity and open approach mean that young people trust that our content is well-researched, balanced and non-judgemental."* 

On mobile

TheSite.org is now available on a specially-designed mobile site. By going to www.thesite.org on a mobile, young people can access support, information and a database of local advice services in their area. This means that wherever they are in the UK they can access the advice and information they need, no matter what the problem.

Involving volunteers

askTheSite recruits and trains young people aged 18-29 as online peer advisors. The aim is to empower young people to support their peers with the relationships issues that matter to them.

It offers young people a fresh way to volunteer. As advisors, the volunteers benefit from the flexibility that online working can offer, while the young people they respond to are able to open up in confidence to members of their peer group. This peer-to-peer dimension between user and advisor illustrates askTheSite's ability to provide advice rooted in empathy, whilst at the same time remaining objective and expert.