The Mix (charity)

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The Mix is a digital charity in the United Kingdom. Their main remit is ‘to take on the embarrassing problems’ and subjects close to the hearts of the young people who use its service, ranging from exam stress to sex.^[1] The charity works with anybody under the age of 25, providing support through various channels, including a free helpline and chat service, articles and peer-to-peer community chats.^[2] Alongside this, The Mix provides opportunities for young people to have a say on what the charity supports and campaigns for, and provides volunteer and training opportunities.^[3]

History[]

Two charities supporting young people, YouthNet (founded in 1995) and Get Connected (founded in 1991), completed a merger in March 2016.^[4] YouthNet provides online support and advice while Get Connected runs a telephone helpline.^[5] Both services remain part of The Mix's offering. The formal name of the company and charity is "YouthNet UK (trading as 'The Mix')".^[6]

Core services[]

The Mix offers all of its support digitally, which means their core services are delivered across multiple channels and always remotely. Their services include:

• Article content
• Video content
• A free and anonymised helpline (4pm to 11pm every day)^[7]
• Crisis messenger^[8]
• Community forums (peer-to-peer support)
• Email^[9]
• Group chats^[10]
• Counselling (free, instigated by self-referrals)

Apps and tools[]

"Stressheads" is an app available on Android and iOS devices, and through internet browsers, designed as a distraction tool for young people. It was co-created by a group of young volunteers, YouthNet (now The Mix) and Neon Tribe. It was supported by Capital One. "Stepfinder" is a mobile app available on iOS devices that helps young people pin-point the nearest support service to them. The app was developed with Scramboo.

"Motimator" is a mobile app available on Android and iOS devices, created to inspire and motivate young job-seekers on their journey to employment. It was launched by YouthNet (now The Mix), together with O2.^[11]

"Home Truths" is a web tool that helps young people to live independently and understand what to expect from living on their own for the first time. This tool was built with the support of Experian and Affinity Sutton.

"Define Me" is a web tool that helps young people translate their experiences into skills employers are looking for. It was developed with the support of UBS AG.

"Let’s Talk Consent Tool" is a web app that guides users through a series of questions designed to help people understand if they are legally allowed to have sex with someone.

Youth research and insights[]

To build a better understand of young people and respond to their needs, The Mix develops many of its services in coordination with young people – through co-creation sessions. It has also led several research pieces to better understand young people, their behaviour, the challenges they face and the lives the lead. These include:

• Youth Employability: Pining Down the Future of Digital Badging^[12] (2017) - A report that concluded a two-year project.^[13] Its intention was to improve youth employability in the UK and Denmark by developing informal learning options online that could be recognised with the awarding of a digital badge that could be transferable across Europe. Funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme and conducted by The Mix and the Centre for Digital Youth Care (CDYC).
• YouthLabs – Young People’s on-going relationship with social media^[14] (2015) - An ethnographic research project created by YouthNet (now The Mix) and DigitasLBi.^[15] It was designed to capture the voices, opinions and concerns of young people engaging with social media in the UK.
• Connected Generation report^[16] (2015) - Get Connected (now The Mix) asked 5,000 children and young people under 25 across the UK about the issues they face in the modern world, as well as how well they feel supported and how they prefer to seek help if they face a personal problem
• Connecting the dots (^[17] 2014) - YouthNet conducted a three-month, collaborative research project^[18] with employers, sector colleagues working around employability and young people to explore the role that digital support can play in supporting a young person’s journey to work.
• Hidden homelessness in young people^[19] (2013) - A research project that explored how young people reach a state of homelessness. YouthNet (now The Mix) led a six-month, collaborative research project^[20] with leading housing experts and young people to explore the role that digital support can play in supporting those young people experiencing homelessness.
• Supporting young people through mobile technology^[21] (2013) - This research identified insights and trends in the way young people seek help in the mobile environment. It demonstrates YouthNet’s (now The Mix’s) innovative approach to supporting them.

Organisation[]

The Mix is made up of a mixture of paid staff and volunteers. It is one of eight charity partners working with The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to deliver Heads Together, a nationwide campaign challenging stigma around mental health.^[22] It works with several other organisations – including CentrePoint^[23] - to deliver support services to young people.

The CEO is Chris Martin.^[24]

External links[]

• Official website

References[]