BACKGROUND: No 5 is a registered charity established in 1971 to offer the young people of Reading emotional support and information. We are located at 2–4 Sackville Street in Central Reading.

Funded primarily through the Youth Service of Reading Borough Council, and utilising the skills and expertise of over 80 volunteers, No 5 provides up to 450 counselling and support sessions each month.

No 5 is governed by a group of trustees, drawn from local government, health and social care backgrounds, business and the local community. Some of the Trustees also volunteer their time as counsellors. For more information about our current Trustees, please click here.

WHAT DOES NO 5 DO? No 5 offers a free and confidential counselling services to young people aged between 11 and 24 from our premises in central Reading.

Young people come for counselling to help them deal with a wide range of issues – bullying, abuse, anger, depression, psychological distress, rape, behavioural problems, eating disorders, conflict with parents and carers, crime, teenage pregnancy and sexual health problems or difficulties with relationships. And sometimes simply for an opportunity to talk about what's going on in their lives.

No 5 also provides counselling services at eight secondary schools and Reading Young Offenders Institute.

As an Organisational Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), No 5 is bound by its Ethical Framework and Complaints Procedure (further information about BACP can be found on at www.bacp.co.uk)