YMCA DownsLink Group

Author: Anthony Irtelli

  • New supported accommodation opening in Hastings

    New supported accommodation opening in Hastings

    We are delighted to announce that we are opening a new 24-hour supported accommodation project for young people facing homelessness in Hastings. The new ‘Hastings Foyer’ will provide much needed homes for up to 47 young people.

    The new Foyer will provide a safe and stable place for young people at risk of homelessness and will help them develop the skills they need to thrive independently. As well as providing a safe home, the project will also deliver its ‘More Than a Room’ programme which is designed to give young people life skills, as well as pathways back into education, training, or employment.

    Speaking about the opening of the new Hastings Foyer, Anna Cooley-Greene Head of Operations (East Sussex) said:

    “The South Coast has historically attracted those experiencing homelessness. Hastings and St Leonards face consistent challenges in relation to poverty, levels of deprivation and homelessness, so we are delighted to be able to provide high-quality accommodation and a holistic support offer to young people locally. We’ve worked closely with the local council and other partners to ensure that this service embeds well into the local community.”

    We are extremely proud to be able to provide a service for young people experiencing homelessness in an area where supported accommodation has been limited for a long time.

  • Celebrating our YMCA DownsLink Group Brighton Marathon runners

    Celebrating our YMCA DownsLink Group Brighton Marathon runners

    On Sunday 12th September, runners from across the country descended on Brighton & Hove for the 2021 Brighton Marathon. Four runners, Carl, Clare, Alex and Laura formed team YMCA DownsLink Group. They did an incredible job and have so far raised over £1,100 for our projects and services.

    Carl, a history teacher, travelled from Ipswich to run the marathon. Here he shares his experience of running the marathon and why he chose to raise money for our charity.

    “I saw taking part in the Brighton Marathon as a great way to give myself a new challenge, but also to inspire the pupils that I teach. Running to raise money for the YMCA DownsLink Group gave me an added incentive; pushing myself to help others. I teach 11-18 year olds and I felt that I start young people on their journey into adult life, but some struggle once they leave education and the YMCA DownsLink Group are there to give them a helping hand.

    If I am honest, the last few miles were a real struggle, but every time someone sang “YMCA” at me it gave me a boost and kept me going. Crossing that finish line, albeit 500 metres further than it should be, I had such a feel of pride, achievement and self-belief. It was a long day, having left my house at 5.30am that morning to drive the 130 miles, and drive home afterwards! I do feel that I have unfinished business with the course, not having completed it in a time I wanted, so I will be back!”

    Clare works at YMCA DownsLink Group and here she shares why she took part in the marathon.

    “I have seen the incredible difference that YMCA DownsLink Group makes to homeless young people and wanted to give myself a challenge to help to fund this work.

    I absolutely loved the day of the marathon. The atmosphere was amazing and having my YMCA colleagues cheering me on as I ran was such a great help. Due to Covid, the start was a runners only area so I really appreciated meeting up with another YMCA runner while we waited for our start. I also came across another YMCA fundraiser on the last few miles and we pushed each other to get across the finish line which was definitely needed!”

    If you would like to support the work we do and congratulate any of our runners on successfully completing the marathon, you can donate to their fundraising pages here: Clare, Carl, Alex, Laura 

  • YMCA DownsLink Group at Crawley Pride Festival

    YMCA DownsLink Group at Crawley Pride Festival

    Samantha Burton, West Sussex Chaplain, writes about her experience volunteering at the very first Crawley Pride Festival.

    On the weekend of 28-29 August, Crawley hosted it’s very first Pride festival, a weekend of fun, colour, funfair rides, music and entertainment, but most importantly of celebrating diversity and recognising the progress that has been made by members of the LGBTQU+ community since the historic Stonewall event – and the progress that continues to be made even now for acceptance, inclusion, and safety of our fellow humans who identify as part of this community in Crawley and beyond.

    It was an absolute privilege to be included onto the volunteer team for this event, specifically to be a part of the Sanctuary Team, set up by one of the event organisers to provide a safe and restful place for those who felt overwhelmed, lost, or just needed a break. A first for any festival I’ve ever attended! Made up of a group of people from Crawley’s Churches and faith communities, and myself, it was a small space with sofas, cushions, a hot urn for teas and coffees, colouring and healthy and less healthy snacks (read sweets) – much like our Chaplaincy nights are, so it was home away from home! It definitely became a space of rest for the weary and overburdened over the weekend.

    On the Sunday, we also had Eli Adie and Elle Snodgrass from our LGBTQU+ Haven team right next door! Including some of the young people from our services, who volunteered their time at the stall to talk about what the Haven team offers for young LGBTQU+ community members at the YAC (Youth Advice Centre) at Crawley Foyer. It was great to be alongside other members of our organisation at this historic event.

    Eli Adie, West Sussex Youth Hub Development Manager said:

    “It was amazing to be a part of Crawley’s first ever Pride event – and it was an especially proud moment for me knowing that young people’s voices made it all happen in the first place – a true example of how listening to young people can make a massive impact! I think my favourite moment of the day was actually on my way home, watching countless young people flowing out of Goffs Park, with their Pride flags still draped round their shoulders, feeling safe to be out and proud in central Crawley!”

     

  • Thank you to the Ethicurean Guild for providing takeaway meals to our residents for a whole year!

    Thank you to the Ethicurean Guild for providing takeaway meals to our residents for a whole year!

    The Ethicurean Guild, founded by Edd Heller, cooks amazing food from small farms and producers and has been feeding residents of YMCA DownsLink Group every Monday for a whole year.

    The talented chef is Jacques who works at the Stoneham Pub, owned by Edd Heller. The residents always enjoy Monday takeaway nights with food ranging from burgers to pizzas and more. In addition to feeding YMCA DownsLink Group residents, since the pandemic Edd and his team have cooked 100,000 meals to those in need including NHS frontline workers. From the team at YMCA DownsLink Group, we want to say thank you!

    Fiona Sharpe, one of our volunteer Chaplains picks up the meals from The Stoneham and hand delivers them to YMCA DownsLink group residents in Landsworth House where each young person is given a meal, a home and an allocated a support worker to help them identify targets and to work towards achieving goals that lead to independence. Thank you so much Fiona for kindly delivering the food to residents over the last year.

    The Chaplaincy at YMCA DownsLink Group provides support to both residents and staff. Our YMCA volunteer chaplains are here to offer support to residents and staff. The daily pressures of life can get to us all. Our volunteer chaplains are there to listen, chat and offer support in any way they can.

    The entire team at YMCA DownsLink Group want to say a huge thank you to Edd, Jacques, The Ethicurean Guild and Fiona.  We cannot thank you enough for cheering up anyone’s Monday blues with a delicious takeaway. Your support makes such a difference.

  • ‘Spirit’ by Chaplain Samantha Burton

    ‘Spirit’ by Chaplain Samantha Burton

    Spirit

    And Breathe…

    Such a simple, unconscious, and yet life-giving action that we perform awake and asleep.

    But do you remember to breathe? I mean, really breathe, consciously and deeply. Our body is great at giving us signs about our need to be more conscious of our breathing – we yawn because there’s not enough oxygen in our system, we sigh when we’re frustrated or stressed or worn out. But do we pay enough attention to these signs?

    Across ancient cultures and languages, the words for ‘breath’and ‘life’ o r ‘spirit’ are often interchangeable, and spiritual practices over millennia have known how integral breath is to a wholesome functioning of our bodies and minds – something that unfortunately modern day society has seemingly lost.

    If you want to improve your breathing, how about starting now, as you read this. Sit back, relax your shoulders and if you feel safe, close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds then let it out slowly through your mouth, and repeat.

    Deep breathing like this has so many benefits, it’s amazing we don’t do it more often. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving digestion and core muscle stability, deep breathing can even lower your blood pressure. Whilst it’s best to do this in a quiet and safe space, I have also found it helpful to try before an important meeting or phone call, to calm any nerves.

    Breathing unites us too – regardless of age, country of origin, skin colour, social status, religious belief, we all need to breathe. In fact all life relies on it. Just think, we share this air with ALL life on this planet. If you can get into even a semi-habit of consciously deep breathing, it can really make a difference for your whole self, improving both your emotional and physical wellbeing. And THAT is the most important thing, because YOU are important.

    So, remember to breathe…

    Samantha Burton, Chaplain at YMCA DownsLink Group

  • Inspirational youth worker shortlisted for national Youth Matters Awards

    Inspirational youth worker shortlisted for national Youth Matters Awards

    We’re delighted that our West Sussex Youth Hub Development Coordinator, Eli Adie,  has reached the semi-finals of the Youth Matters Awards. Eli has been shortlisted for the Young Worker of the Year Award and we believe that her dedication, passion and commitment to the young people and the services she manages has earned her a place in the final. You can help Eli get there by VOTING ONLINE.

    Since starting her role in West Sussex, Eli has worked tirelessly to implement new projects in both Crawley and Worthing. She has worked in partnership with both statutory and voluntary partners and led work to set up pathways for young people into emotional wellbeing and mental health projects.

    Eli has developed our emotional wellbeing, and mental health projects Mind the Gap and the Bite-Size offer in partnership with West Sussex County Council. She has successfully sought funding for and implemented a new LGBTQU+ youth support service, developed our Crawley Youth Advice Centre to not only have a YMCA offer through our own specialist Support and Advice workers but working with local delivery partners offering employment support and counselling. On top of all that, she has taken on the management of the therapeutic support in our partnership project ‘Room to Rant’ and supported the rollout of this important young men’s support service across Sussex and continued to support Brighton delivery.

    On finding out about being shortlisted for the Youth Matters Awards, Eli said:

    “It’s a real honour to be nominated for this award. I think it’s vital that young people can see themselves represented within the charity sector workforce at all levels, including management, so that they can feel confident that young people’s voices are truly represented, listened to and respected. As a young person I experienced family breakdown, hidden homelessness and enduring mental health problems and relied heavily on youth services and youth clubs. I’m incredibly proud to be able to work in this role with YMCA DLG, developing our Youth Hub services, co-producing with local young people to ensure that our services are responsive to young people’s needs.”

    Eli’s passion for and commitment to youth voice underpins all the work she undertakes. Eli set up Youth Advisory Boards (YABs) for her area and also led on setting up YMCA DownLink Group-wide thematic YABs, ensuring that as an organisation, we were able to offer space for emerging issues and concerns for young people, including anti-black racism and LGBTQU+ issues.

    Throughout the past year, Eli has responded to the changes COVID has forced upon us with resilience and dedication, keeping people safe while still meeting young people’s needs and providing continuous service.

    Eli adds:

    “I’m particularly proud to have been able to use my position over the last 18 months to advocate for and amplify the voices of marginalised young people in West Sussex and can’t wait to continue to build on that work in the years to come. I’d just like to take a minute to shout out my amazing team past and present  for their dedication to the young people we support, as well as all the young people who have taken part in our Youth Advisory Boards and influenced and informed our support services.”

    Youth Matters Awards – VOTE NOW

    Don’t forget that you can help determine the finalists so please vote for Eli today! Voting for the Youth Matters Awards will close Friday 13 August and you can only vote once in each category.

    Support our work with young people

    If you’d like to support our work to transform the lives of young people facing homelessness DONATE  HERE. Or, if you would like to offer longer-term support, consider becoming a ROOM SPONSOR and give a vulnerable young person in your community the chance of a brighter future.