Author: Anthony Irtelli

32% of young people agreed that the pandemic had made their mental health much worse (Young Minds).

Worsening mental health

Over two thirds (68%) of the young people we house in supported accommodation have existing mental health issues and in many cases, the pandemic and resulting stress, worry and anxiety has exacerbated these issues.

Whether through loss of job and income, social isolation or a lack of access to private space, they need our continuous support throughout this challenging time. Enter e-wellbeing!

e-wellbeing: How virtual mental health support is making a difference 

Last month YMCA Dialogue, in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, launched a new digital service for young people in Sussex – e-wellbeing. The mental health support website provides advice, support and a clear pathway to local services for any young person in need and aims to reduce the pressure on frontline services, including GP’s and A&E.

The initial traffic since launch starkly highlighted how needed mental health support is for young people, particularity at this challenging time. In the first week of the official launch:

• 1,533 people accessed e-wellbeing
• There were 4,961 page views on emotional wellbeing
• 90% said they would recommend the site to a young person

In the coming months, the digital platform will continue to work with our youth participation project YMCA Right Here and other young people to create more interactive content, including videos on issues affecting young people (click here for an example, or see below) and will gain their feedback to further develop the site.

For more information, please contact Nicola Harvey, YMCA DLG’s Digital Wellbeing Development Lead at [email protected].

One of our supported accommodation residents in West Sussex, Cameron, has been making some amazing wooden creations for the resident’s communal garden during lockdown – and getting other residents involved in the process.

Cameron, who has had training in roofing and fencing and is now self-employed CIS registered, saw an opportunity when after three weeks of lockdown some residents started showing signs of feeling low and became restless and bored. Cameron expressed an interesting in building something out of the discarded wood in the garden and the first item was created – a wooden bench! After this and some kind donations of wood from his employer, other residents got involved sharing ideas and helping to build other items including bird houses and a work bench. Working together on this new project gave the residents focus and an opportunity to grow their social skills and stretch their imagination.

Cameron says “I feel really proud of what we have created. It tested my knowledge and skills and it was good to share these with the group.”

We took the opportunity to have a chat with Cameron and find out more about his story, as below:

What bought you to YMCA DownsLink Group?

“I was not getting along with my parents and over the space of four years, I had been made homeless several times. I finally approached the council to look at housing options and was referred to YMCA DownsLink Group for supported accommodation. Within weeks I was offered an interview and accommodated when a void became available.”

What has living at YMCA Worthing Foyer been like?

“I have appreciated that I have stable accommodation and also appreciate the support readily available when needed.

“I have struggled to take part in the group work [Our More Than a Room sessions support young people with budgeting, seeking employment, training and education and with their mental health and wellbeing] due to work commitments, but more flexibility will enable me to take part more often.”

What drew you to carpentry?

“I have been involved and enjoyed carpentry for as long as I can remember, helping my Dad around the house and in his work projects. This was the beginning of my journey and promoted my interest.

“I then went on to gain skills in fencing, roofing and loft ladder installations. I am also using the skills and knowledge gained to build things from pallets in my free time.

“I will eventually build my up own company in property maintenance, specialising in carpentry.”

Check out some of his amazing creations below:

One of our amazing supporters has bounced the equivalent of a marathon on his trampoline – all to raise money to enable our vital services for young people to continue.

13-year-old Charlie took on the challenge after acknowledging that it’s currently a tough fundraising climate for charities.

YMCA DownsLink Group has seen an increase in demand for our services at a time when traditional fundraising streams have disappeared and we need to raise £500,000 to keep our vital services running.

In his own words, Charlie says:

“My name is Charlie. I’ve decided to do this because the charity my dad works for provides really important services for young people. My dad is  Head of Learning and would usually be at work helping them learn and get jobs, but because of the coronavirus, is at home at the moment, as are most people.

“He has told me about the people he works with, and I know how lucky I am having somewhere to live and a great relationship with my parents.

“Now more than ever, charities are finding it really difficult to raise money, so I hope this helps just a little bit.”

Massive congratulations to Charlie for completing his challenge!

Have you got a challenge you’d like to complete to help support vulnerable young people? Email [email protected] and we’ll get you set up!

Putting the ‘keen’ in cyclist, two staff members have taken on a marathon challenge, raising money for the young people in crisis we support!

Chas Walker and Pete Colmer are cycling 26 miles, 26 times over 26 days straight in June – the 26 Cubed Challenge. They are doing this as part of the 2.6 Challenge, a national campaign raising much needed funds for charities negatively impacted by the cancellation of mass participation sports events such as the London Marathon.

Not only have traditional fundraising streams disappeared, but we have seen increased demand from young people across our services and projects – with more young people presenting as homeless and many experiencing worsening mental health as a result of the uncertainty caused by this pandemic.

In his own words, Chas says:

“I am the CEO at YMCA DownsLink Group and every year we have to fundraise to ensure we can deliver all our charitable services. This year we need to fundraise £0.5 million to support our work with homeless young people, our mental health support for children, young people and families and our community youth work. With Coronavirus having a big impact on our communities, this work is more vital than ever.

“Every year I aim to personally fund raise £1000 to support our vital work. This year I am using the national 2.6 Challenge as one of my fundraising events.”

Pete adds:

“I work for YMCA Downslink Group and usually take on a challenge to raise funds for the vulnerable young people that we support. This year is no different and I propose to cycle 26 miles 26 times over 26 days. At the end of the 26 days I should have cycled at least 767 miles, that’s 1,234Km in new money!”

Find out how they’re doing! You can track Chas here and Pete here.

Have you got a challenge you’d like to complete to help support vulnerable young people? Email [email protected] to get started!

The coronavirus pandemic has caused worry, stress and anxiety for many people. However, it has also demonstrated the inherent kindness in our families, friends and communities.

At a time when the vulnerable, young people we support are feeling isolated and alone, we have been overwhelmed with the support shown by those in our communities. We wanted to take the opportunity to thank some of those businesses who have reached out to us during this challenging time – thank you, you are all heroes!

Here are some of the amazing ways businesses have been showing their support:

• A hair-raising (or shaving!) experience! The wonderful Harvey from Metricell braved the shave and did a sponsored head-shave
• Helping Hands! The lovely bunch from Higgidy Pies donated goodie bags to our residents to help them through this difficult and isolating time
• Stretch and smile! Sussex Physiotherapy and Pilates have been raising money through online Pilates classes – you can get involved here
• Amazing ads! After cancelling an event due to Covid-19, the amazing Freeman Brothers donated advertising space they no longer required to local charities!
• Super Skipton! Skipton Building Society made a donation to enable our essential youth homelessness work to continue
• We are Family! OneFamily‘s contribution provides crucial support for all our young people during this difficult time
• Social staff raising money! Electric Square hosted an online games night, including good old Pictionary!
• Food, glorious food! Mutual Aid UK donated food and essential items to our young people in need
• …and relax! The lovely Tisserand Aromatherapy donated wellbeing products to our supported accommodation residents

If you’d like your business to get involved and support young people in crisis, please contact [email protected]

To find out more about our campaign to provide basic necessities for young people in our supported accommodation who are feeling anxious and alone, click here.

The 2.6 Challenge

At the end of April, we joined other charities across the nation in the 2.6 Challenge – a fundraising campaign intended to make up some of the shortfalls for charities missing out on funding from mass participation sports events and hit hard by the impact of COVID-19.

The 2.6 Challenge encouraged supporters to do a challenge based around the number 26 (the London Marathon was supposed to be on April 26th this year) – whether that’s running 2.6 miles, doing 26 squats, or baking 26 treats for family and friends.

Superstar fundraisers 

We were overwhelmed with the enthusiasm with which supporters got involved (and are still involved!) with the challenge. Our supporters have included:

• A star jumping champion, who did 26 starjumps in 2.6 minutes
• A four-year-old cycling sensation, who cycled 26 miles over a week
• A family of bakers who have each baked a different dish
• A stellar team of colleagues who are running, walking, skating and cycling 26 miles and doing 26 days of different exercises!

Pictured: some of our 2.6 Challenge participants and their challenges! 

Still time to get involved with the 2.6 Challenge! 

If you’d like to get involved with you own 2.6 Challenge, click here for more information, to get inspiration from our current supporters and to set up your fundraising page.

Every year, we provide a safe home for around 1,400 vulnerable young people locally. As a result of Covid-19, YMCA DownsLink Group has seen a dramatic increase in young people needing our support. Many have existing underlying mental health issues, are living in difficult/abusive family situations or have lost employment/income due to the crisis. Homelessness has always been an issue in our area, but coronavirus has exacerbated that for young people.

The money you raise will go towards supporting young people through this pandemic and beyond.

Click here to find out more and donate. 

Don’t forget to share pictures or video of your challenge on social media so we can applaud you! Use the hashtag #TwoPointSixChallenge and tag in @YMCADLG.