Help and advice is being offered to young people in Southampton who are deciding what path to take after getting their GCSE results this week.

Southampton City Council has teamed up with No Limits, the city charity that offers advice to thousands of young people each year, and several local training providers to run drop-in sessions on Thursday, August 21 for school leavers, providing information, advice and support – especially for those whose results aren’t what they were expecting.

While schools will be offering guidance following the release of the results some young people may wish to speak to someone impartially about their next steps. And it’s not just about options after GCSE – No Limits advisers are able to help with a whole host of other issues such as health, housing, work, training and apprenticeships.

From this year the age at which young people are required to remain in education or training increases to 18 – an extra two years after GCSEs – with the aim of giving all young people more opportunities to gain the qualifications and skills they need to get on.

Many young people will choose to remain in study and take A-level, BTEC or GNVQ vocational courses at their current school or another school or college. Others may choose to learn new skills and get a trade by starting an apprenticeship.

Councillor Dan Jeffery, Southampton City Council’s cabinet member for Education and Change, said: "Whether you are celebrating getting the results you wanted, or revisiting your options after not getting the grades you hoped for, the message for Southampton’s young people is clear: make the most of the advice on offer.

"In Southampton the range of options open to young people is wider than ever - and by getting good advice you can ensure that the skills, experience and qualifications that you can gain during your remaining years of education and training will help open doors to better jobs and brighter prospects."