Hounslow Youth Counselling Service Appoints Youngest-ever Trustee
23-year-old Seth Ashby-Hawkins joins the board
Seth first joined HYCS through a school work-experience placement
September 22, 2026
Hounslow Youth Counselling Service (HYCS) has appointed its youngest-ever trustee, marking a significant moment for the long-established local mental health charity. At just 23, Seth Ashby-Hawkins was formally voted onto the Board of Trustees at HYCS’s Annual General Meeting on 18 September, completing a journey that began when he first volunteered with the organisation as a secondary school student.
HYCS, a BACP-accredited service, provides free and confidential counselling for young people aged 11–25 across the London Borough of Hounslow. For many, it is a vital early point of contact for mental health support, offering a safe space to talk at a time when demand for youth counselling continues to rise.
Seth first joined HYCS through a school work-experience placement, later becoming a Youth Ambassador for the charity. In that role he represented HYCS at public events and council forums, speaking about the importance of accessible mental health support for young people. His advocacy reached a wider audience last December when he appeared live on BBC News South from a community fundraising event, discussing the impact of HYCS’s work.
His appointment to the Board brings a direct youth perspective to the charity’s governance — something HYCS has increasingly prioritised as it seeks to ensure young people’s voices shape the future of its services.
Acting Chair of Trustees, Petra Raccani, welcomed the appointment, saying Seth’s involvement demonstrates “what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to get involved and have their voices heard”. She added that the Board looks forward to benefiting from his “insight, energy and commitment to advocating for the wellbeing and mental health of young people”.
Reflecting on his new role, Seth said he was honoured to continue supporting an organisation he has known since his teenage years. “HYCS is a place I know young people can turn to when they’re struggling to find someone who will listen,” he said. “It is an absolute honour to become a trustee of such a valuable local charity and to help ensure young people’s voices are represented and remain at the heart of HYCS, now and in the future.”
HYCS operates from St John’s Road in Isleworth and continues to expand its outreach and support programmes for young people across the borough.
More information about HYCS can be found at www.hycscounselling.co.uk or by contacting the service on 020 8568 1818.
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