York St John Communities Centre
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Our mental health centre vows to be welcoming and inclusive.
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/1600-x-1000/Campus-building-quad.jpg)
Joint statement from York St John University, Askham Bryan College, York College, and the University of York
As York’s two colleges and two universities, we stand together in promoting unity, respect, and safety for all who live, work, and study in our city.
We are collectively committed to fostering inclusive environments where diversity is celebrated and every individual is valued equally - regardless of background, belief, or identity. Our institutions share a deep belief in the power of education to build understanding, challenge prejudice, and strengthen communities.
We recognise the pride that many feel in their city and country, and we honour that pride through our commitment to openness and mutual respect. However, we are also deeply concerned by unacceptable incidents of harassment, racist incidents and intimidation in recent weeks. This behaviour has no place in our communities, our campuses, or our city.
Harassment, hate and discrimination will not be tolerated. Together, we will continue to work with our partners across York to ensure that every student, staff member, and resident feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.
Our shared values unite us - and we reaffirm our commitment to equality, dignity, and compassion for all.
We work to ensure all clients feel accepted and valued without encountering bias or discrimination.
We strive to try and reduce barriers for people being able to access our services. We do this by offering most of our services free of charge, and the few chargeable services we offer are formulated by using a sliding scale model, where we take into account your individual financial circumstances. We also ensure that are waiting times are minimal to ensure that people are able to access the support they need swiftly.
Your feedback and suggestions for improving our services are welcome. We will always respond to your feedback and will work to accommodate your suggested changes.
Please email feedback to Nikki Jephson, Centre Manager and Safeguarding Officer: ysjcc@yorksj.ac.uk.
Client feedback
Responsiveness to my way of working and my needs in sessions was hugely helpful. My counsellor's understanding of disability and LGBTQ+ awareness was hugely validating and helped remove stigma from the experience.
Client feedback
The fact sessions were available online was very helpful and otherwise I would not have been able to do it. The flexible payment options based on income were also very appreciated and this was one of the things that made me take the step to doing counselling, as I didn't think I could justify the cost of some private options.
Client feedback
The flower garden at the front and the care that has gone into that, and the room itself really felt nice and calming.
Client feedback
The experience has been very smooth and human centred. The website was clear, my self-referral was quickly followed up with a real person conversation to match me to an excellent counsellor. The appointment reminders were well timed and the email tone spot on. I also appreciated a real person replying when I once thought I was going to be late for an appointment!
Client feedback
Everyone at the centre has been very helpful and kind. It's been a welcoming atmosphere that has put me at ease, even when I'm not feeling my best.
Client feedback
The website was easy to use, and the form for applying for counselling was easy to follow. The communication I had for my initial phone consultation was excellent, and I was booked with a counsellor within two weeks of my initial consultation over the phone.
Client feedback
The website is full of great resources and information, and I have always had brilliant communication along with weekly appointment reminders.
Further reading
Read about equality and diversity at York St John University in the annual equality and diversity reports.
Find out more about equality and diversity using the resources below:
- Contact: guidance and information for families with disabled children
- Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB): advice for those affected by sight loss
- Ability Net: specialist advice about digital accessibility
- Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT): information about work, health and rights
- Action on Hearing Loss: information about hearing loss
- StandAlone: support and information for people who are estranged
- Stonewall: Resources and information for LGBT people
- Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS): Services and support for those who experience domestic abuse
- The Interfaith Network UK: Information about different faiths.
Supporting York St John Communities Centre
As a not for profit organisation with charitable status, your contribution to York St John Communities Centre plays a vital role in helping us continue our mission of serving the community.
Whether you're interested in volunteering your time, making a donation, or spreading the word about our cause, there are lots of ways you can get involved and make a difference. You can explore the different ways to support us on our Supporting the Centre page and help us in continuing to create positive change in our community.
Supporting the Centre One-off or regular donation (JustGiving)
