The You Trust

The YOU Trust

​The YOU Trust (legal name The Youth Options Trust) is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee that has been operating since 1985. The organisation focuses on empowering vulnerable people across Southern and South West England (specifically Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight) to live independent and fulfilling lives.

​Who They Are

​The YOU Trust is a community-focused charity dedicated to the vision that everyone should have the tools and resources to live the life they want.

​The organisation is led by a Board of Trustees and professional managers who prioritise Trauma-Informed Care. Their approach is "creatively empowering," meaning they look for innovative ways to solve complex social issues like social isolation, domestic violence, and homelessness. They are recognised for their long-standing presence in the community and their ability to work across multiple specialist sectors.

​They pride themselves on their Inclusive Culture, ensuring that their services are accessible to all, regardless of background, and that the people they support have a direct voice in how their residences and services are managed.

​What They Do

​Domestic Abuse & Stalking Services

Operating the Integrated Domestic Abuse Services for various local authorities. This includes:

• ​Refuges and Safe Houses: Providing immediate, secure accommodation for women and children.
• ​Community Outreach: Practical and emotional support for survivors staying in their own homes.
• ​Specialist Advocacy: Supporting victims through the criminal justice and civil court processes.

​Learning Disabilities & Mental Health Support

Providing supported living and outreach services for adults. They focus on helping people gain the skills needed to live independently, manage their own tenancies, and engage with their local communities.

​Advice & Crisis Support

Through their First Point services (particularly in Dorset), they help residents with:

• ​Debt and Welfare Benefits: Assistance with claims, appeals, and managing arrears.
• ​Housing Advice: Preventing eviction and finding suitable long-term accommodation.

​Employment & Social Inclusion

• ​Dorset Supported Employment: Helping individuals with disabilities or mental health challenges return to the workplace.
• ​Social Isolation Projects: Initiatives like Cycling Without Age, where volunteers use electric "trishaws" to take isolated residents for rides around their local sights.

​Approach & Values

​The YOU Trust focuses on Joy, Creativity, and Empowerment.

​They prioritise Relationship-Based Support, matching staff and volunteers with individuals based on shared interests and mutual respect. Their approach is designed to be Outcome-Focused; rather than just providing a safety net, they work with people to build "resilience" so they can move away from crisis support and toward self-sufficiency.

​A strong emphasis is placed on "Ownership," where residents at properties (such as those in Odiham) have working groups to guide the running of their own homes.

​Industry Role

​The YOU Trust plays a critical role in the Social Safety Net of Southern England, acting as a primary commissioned partner for Hampshire and Dorset County Councils.

​As a multi-service charity, the organisation contributes to regional stability by providing specialist interventions that "bridge the gaps" where traditional state services might fall short—particularly in domestic abuse and social reablement. They act as a strategic partner for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and NHS Trusts, offering trauma-informed training to frontline staff in hospitals and police stations.

​They offer a highly reputable and community-embedded care solution, making them a preferred choice for local authorities seeking a partner that combines professional governance with a genuine, charitable heart.