One-to-one mentoring
Every young adult is matched with a mentor who helps them build confidence, self-esteem and employability skills, one conversation at a time.
Registered charity in England and Wales
Supporting young adults in Bucks and South Oxfordshire to become productive members of their communities by gaining confidence, independence and employability.
EYAI provides young adults aged 18 to 25 with practical training alongside one-to-one mentoring, giving them the skills and confidence to move into work, further education and independent life.
Free support for young adults aged 18 to 25 primarily in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and surrounding areas.
- Registered charity no. 1195406
- Part of the Bucks Family Hub network
- Safeguarding policy available to download
Why we exist
The step from 18 to independent adult life is the hardest one. We walk it together.
Turning 18 can mean support falls away exactly when it is needed most. EYAI works in that critical transition space: the years between 18 and 25 when confidence, skills and the right encouragement decide whether a young adult moves forward or gets stuck.
We pair every young adult with a mentor, then back the mentoring with real work experience at Pippa's Community Café, our training hub. The café is for the whole community, not just the young adults we support: anyone is welcome to drop in for a coffee and a chat. That is what makes it such a good place to learn practical skills, serve real customers and build the self-belief that leads to employment and independence.
What we do
Practical support that leads somewhere real
Café work experience
Pippa's Community Café is our training hub: real shifts, real customers and real skills, in a supportive environment before stepping into the wider workplace.
Experience for 16 to 18s
The café also provides work experience for 16 to 18 year olds who need alternative education provision or experience for their college applications and CVs.
A safe-space community café
Pippa's is a warm, welcoming café for the whole community, and part of the Bucks Family Hub network. Everyone is welcome at the counter.
Employer partnerships
Local employers offer work placements and interview practice to café-trained young adults who arrive motivated, prepared and supported.
Volunteering
Mentors, café helpers and skill-sharers make EYAI work. Give a few hours and change the direction of a young adult's life.
Our training hub
Pippa's Community Café
Based near Aylesbury, Pippa's is where mentoring turns into momentum. Trainees learn barista and food-service skills, work as a team and serve a community that cheers them on. For visitors it is simply a lovely local café: for our young adults it is the first line on a CV.
How it works
Four calm steps from first hello to independence
Get in touch
A young adult, parent, carer or referral partner contacts us by form, phone or email. We reply quickly and arrange a friendly, no-pressure chat.
Meet your mentor
We match each young adult with a mentor and agree simple goals together, at a pace that feels comfortable.
Meeting near you
Meetings take place in a community café near your home, so every session is somewhere local, relaxed and easy to get to.
Step into work
With a CV, references and real experience, we help each young adult move on to employment, education or a placement with a local employer.
18-25
the ages we support
34
young adults supported
12
volunteers and mentors
1195406
registered charity number
Kind words
What our community says
I wanted to work with animals, but a lot of the positions required qualifications and experience, so I found it really difficult to get anywhere to accept me. I just always found that I work better learning on the job and doing practical work than sitting in a classroom working from a board. It's definitely had an impact and struggle on me and my family. I have found EYAI very supportive and very friendly and they're very easy to get along with. At first I was very nervous about it all but settled down very quickly as I got used to using their services. It's given me a lot of confidence, and it gave me a lot of opportunities which has helped me improve.
Pippa's community café offered me a safe non-judgemental space to build my confidence and transferable skills whilst trying to get back into an education setting. My mentor supported me with my anxiety, encouraging me to get myself there using public transport which I found very difficult, but most weeks was able to do. Whilst my confidence improved, I was also finding it easier to talk to new people. Even though education and therapy stopped me being able to attend, I know if I need to talk to my mentor, she will arrange to meet me closer to my home, and I'm very grateful for that
Jo was absolutely amazing; she helped me with my needs with no questions asked. She has taken me out of my shell and helped me with my self-confidence. Couldn't recommend anymore
It is a very rewarding job watching these young people build in confidence and skills in the community with work experience in the café. It's great when you do follow ups with them and see how far they've come since you first met them
Ready to take the first step?
Whether you are a young adult looking for support, a parent, an employer or a future volunteer, we would love to hear from you.