Need a Chat?
WF-I-CAN offers a 'drop in and chat' to anyone between the age of 7 and 19 years old where you can chat online with one of our youth workers. This is not a counselling service. Note that our chat facility is coming soon.
If you need to speak to someone urgently or have a medical emergency, see our links here
So if something is worrying you or you want to share some good news, then connect with us.
Please note this ‘drop-in and chat’ is not a counselling service.
But we are here to listen and signpost you to support if needed, as well as tell you about activities to try at home to help you cope with the current lockdown.
Will you tell anyone I’ve text?
We do not contact parents or anyone else if you text us unless we are worried about your safety or someone else’s, and we would usually speak with you first.
How long will the chat last?
Each chat will usually last 20 minutes as there may be other young people waiting. But you are welcome to text back another day as we’d love to hear how you are doing.
When will the 'drop in and chat' service be available?
We are online Monday – Friday (1pm – 5pm and 7pm - 9pm)
Weekends (2 hours but yet to be agreed)
Messages will not be seen outside these hours.
To be informed when our 'drop in and chat' service goes live, please enter your email address:
How does it work?
The Children’s Act states we have to make sure all children and young people are safe. If we are worried about your safety we will ask your name, where you are and a telephone or email address. To make sure that's OK with you, before you start the chat you will need to tick a box agreeing to give us permission to ask for - and keep - this information.
In line with Public Health we also need to make sure that you can find help easily from a source you can trust. By providing early intervention information we aim to protect and improve children and young people’s emotional well-being and reduce inequalities.
Our services
Some of our services are intentionally targeted at children age 13 years of age and younger as it has a separate platform and entry on WF-I-CAN. We only collect and maintain the data to use for monitoring for funders and safeguarding. This is in line with Government guidance;
"For children under this age you need to get consent from whoever holds parental responsibility for the child - unless the online service you offer is a preventive or counselling service."
From the ICO guide; The UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.