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  • Who we are
  1. About us
  2. Who we are

Who we are

The What? Centre is a Young Person’s Advice and Counselling Service whose main base is Stourbridge and has another building in Dudley.  The Centre was formed in March 1989 and the need for the project was identified by a local Child and Family Strategy Group in Stourbridge who identified that there was nowhere for young people to go. 


The What? Centre has been providing an essential advice and counselling service for young people for 34 years and its reputation grows year by year.  Our Mission Statement is to provide a high quality client centred service for young people mainly between the ages of 13 and 25 but sometimes has funding for 10-12 year olds as well. Our Counselling Service has accreditation from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), has been awarded the Queens Award (equivalent to an MBE for the Voluntary Sector) and has the Investors in People Standard. Our counselling service is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The service therefore works to the Ethical Framework which you can access here. 

Our main work is providing one-to-one counselling services for young people on a wider range of issues such as depression, anxiety, OCD, anger problems, eating disorders, bullying, relationship and family problems, self- loathing and low self-esteem.  We also provide services complimentary to those such as group work on issues such as anger management and low self-esteem and more recently has also held other activities such as half-term and summer programmes for young people aged 13-18. 
The organisation also specialises in supporting LGBTQ young people and holds weekly LGBTQ+ groups for 13-18’s and another group for 18-25’s, we also have thriving transgender groups. (see also our new BeeHIVE project which extends these services). Over the years the Centre has provided a much used advice service for local young people on a range of issues including housing, benefits, foodbank vouchers and through another project we have on board we have been able to provide some advice sessions in schools, colleges and community settings (see our YIF Project). The Centre is now looking to develop its work with Families and this need has been identified through our links with families who often refer their child but also through Pilot Work completed last year where members of our Team were trained in Systemic Family Practice (See Family Section). Our reputation is very high and a great deal of our referrals are directly from GP’s, CAMHS and iCAMHS, and from hospitals, or from parents or young people who have been to see their GP.
We also have good relationships with Local Senior Schools and provide some of their counselling Services (See Schools). The Centre is a registered Charity No. 1064579 and all funds are by way of Service Level Agreements, contracts, funding applications and donations.  The Centre has contracts with the CCG and Public Health and holds a number of other contracts through successful funding bids.  However, demand always outstrips the funding available and so donations are always very gratefully received.

Published: 9th July, 2018

Updated: 21st July, 2020

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    The police don't tolerate hate crime, why should you? Reporting hate crime makes a difference. You can help prevent a hate crime happening to someone else in your community and other communities, and you can help the Police better understand hate crime and improve their responses to it, including making arrests. If you do not feel comfortable contacting the Police directly, The What? Centre can do so on your behalf. We can keep your identity anonymous, or pass on your details.

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    In addition to counselling with a specialist counsellor, the What? Centre also offers group support. The BAME Group can help you connect with like-minded people and provide you with a supportive network, give you a space to explore the unique challenges faced by BAME people and promote your well-being. The aim of this group will be exploring identity and self-acceptance. Please register to our first group session, which will then continue weekly.

  • Support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

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  • Support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

    The What? Centre specialises in providing a range of support for young people who would like to explore their cultural, race or identity as well as just simply provided a safe space where the BAME community can come to. In addition to counselling (with our specialist counsellor) we provide a range of targeted group support for young people experiencing similar experiences.

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    Young people between the ages of 9 and 25 years old.

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    An Advice & Counselling Service providing a high quality client centred service by fully qualified & experienced staff.

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    Reporting Hate Crime

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  • Online services

    The What? Centre is able to provide counselling/advice and groups remotely and in the comfort of your own home

  • LGBTQ+

    The What? Centre specialises in providing a range of support for young people who would like to explore their gender identity and sexuality. In addition to counselling (with our specialist counsellor) we provide a range of targeted group support for young people experiencing similar experiences.

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    We provide a range of support groups and workshops that cover anxiety management, anger management, LGBTQ and BAME issues

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Find us

The What? Centre       
23 Coventry Street      
Stourbridge                 
West Midlands             
DY8 1EP                      

The What? Centre Dudley
31 Priory Street
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 1HA


+44 (0)1384 379992 (S) or (0)1384 885488 (D)
[email protected]

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Registered Charity No. 1064579 | Company Limited by Guarantee No.3415168 | BACP No. 115576

As part of guidelines on the Covid-19 pandemic, The What? Centre is continuing to operate as per normal but providing most services remotely. Our phone line remains open during normal office hours of 10am and 5pm (Mon to Fri). For a faster response, please email [email protected] . Please note that the What Centre is closed from 23rd December and will reopen on 4th Jan. 

For referrals into the service, please complete our referral form. Please note that we are experiencing a higher volume of referrals than usual so you will be contacted for the initial assessments within 2 to 4 weeks (with the exception of Christmas closure)