Author: Debbie Watkins

Earlier this month, we were delighted to receive a generous donation of 16 brand new bikes to be shared amongst our residents.

 

O3E, the charity team building company, facilitated a bike building team day for Thales in Crawley. 250 apprentices from Thales joined in, all eager to work hard to bring about a long lasting positive impact for someone in the local community. The group was split into teams, each building a different part of the bikes and competing in challenges to win accessories for the bikes such as helmets, locks and reflective lights.

After a day of hard work and team building, they successfully built 16 high-quality bikes. It was decided that the bikes would be handed out to residents living in our supported housing projects in Horsham and Crawley as these were the most local to Thales.

The bikes are not only a great way to exercise but they also provide a free means of transportation for the young people. They can also provide a sense of independence for the young people living with us, something that is really key for their development and confidence.

Abdul, one of our residents who received a bike told us:

“The bike will help me save money and time and get to places quicker. It has inspired me to know that if I treat others well and kindly, there are rewards and respect. I respect where I live and the staff and the bike shows they respect me too and I appreciate them picking me to get the bike.” – Abdul

Amy, Inspire Coach, commented:

“I’m so pleased to hear that Adbul was selected to receive a bike. It will help Abdul to get out and about and take up new opportunities. Abdul has attended regular meetings with me to look at different education, employment and training opportunities. He wants a career in IT and has been doing self-learning on-line. He is also looking for a part-time job to support himself whilst he is studying and figuring out his next step. He takes on all support offered to him and is focused on his future and opportunities to move on. Abdul is really grateful for being given this gift.”

Anna, a project worker at our Older Looked After Young People (OLYP) project, told us more about why they chose the young people in their project to receive a bike and what the impact of this donation will be.

“We were very lucky to have some bikes donated to our project. We decided to give the donated bikes to three of our residents. We chose these three residents because over the short time they have spent here, we have seen huge improvements in them. They have been engaging well and learning to live more independently. We are so proud of the progress they have made and we wanted to show them how impressed we are.”

The bikes have already had a hugely positive impact on our residents and will continue to bring them joy and independence for years to come. We’re really grateful to Thales, O3E and the 250 apprentices for their commitment to creating a brighter future for the young people at YMCA DownsLink Group.

“I was very surprised to get my bike. I am very thankful that I can ride around and do some exercise. I am very grateful to the people who donated them.” – Resident at our OLYP project

For Black History Month this year, the theme is Saluting our Sisters. In honour of this, we share below the reflections of our former resident, Emily, on women from the black community who have inspired her.

 

While Emily was living in our supported accommodation, she was a member of our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) forum and over the years got involved in various opportunities to help shape the services we offer, including being an ambassador for YMCA. We are really delighted to hear she is soon graduating from university.

Kelechi Okafor

Kelechi is a Nigerian-born, London-based lover of words. Whether that’s crafting works of fiction, articles, stage plays or screenplays; from directing others on stage to expressing her thoughts on society one episode at a time on her award-winning podcast Say Your Mind, which focuses on globally relevant conversations and events, framed through a lens of understanding which is firmly anti-colonial, anti-white-supremacy and anti-heteropatriarchy.

Emily says:

“Her podcast leaves me filled with love, laughter and activism. Her podcast has helped me stay informed and be more empowered within my intersectional activism, especially anti-racism. She also teaches me to be kinder to myself, keep going and try to have confidence within myself.

I find it so upsetting that someone I find so inspiring gets so much hate like many black women, just for speaking her truth.”

Laverne Cox 

Laverne is an American actress/podcaster and activist who has emerged as a tireless advocate for all marginalised communities, particularly queer and/or racially marginalised groups. She was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category (in 2014 for Orange Is the New Black) and she was the first transgender person to win a Daytime Emmy (2015) as a producer.

Emily says:

“Like Kelechi, she helped bring me joy in the lockdowns with her brilliant podcast.

She has been through so much but is so full of sunshine and hope and still has time and energy to fight for others. She speaks about trauma in a way that makes me not feel ashamed of mine but find tools and skills to manage it.

I love her acting too, especially in Orange Is The New Black. She is so boldly herself and conveys emotions so well. I find her so inspiring.”

Michelle Buteau

Michelle Buteau is an American stand-up comedian, actress, television host, producer and podcast host. She is co-host of the podcast Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos which explores what it means to grow up and offers life advice with a side of comedic truth.

Emily says:

“Michelle Buteau can make me laugh till my sides split open.

She reminds me to embrace and love my curves too. Especially in her tv show Survival of the Thickest. I do always try to love my size but we live in world that profits and shames us into self loathing. Michelle reminds me to throw all my self-doubt in the trash where it belongs.”

Naomi Osaka

Naomi is a world-ranked tennis player born in Japan to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother. She is a seven-time champion in women’s singles, with 4 Grand Slam titles under her belt. She is vocal about the intersections of social justice, specifically fighting anti-Black racism and mental health. In 2020, Naomi was named a Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for her activism and advocacy for Black communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emily says:

“I actually don’t know much about her but I know that she speaks out about racism and about her difficulties with her mental health.

I find it reassuring to her about her mental health, it makes me feel less alone and it makes me feel even better that she is a top class athlete even though every day is a challenge for her. It makes me remember that people can be multiple things and two things can be true. It makes me feel less hopeless when managing my own mental health.”

India Arie 

India Arie is an American singer songwriter. India has sold over five million records in the US and ten million worldwide and has won four Grammy Awards from 23 nominations, including Best R&B Album. Her single “Breathe” was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and encourages us all to keep going, keep working and keep breathing in the face of injustice.

Emily says:

“India Arie’s music got me some of the toughest years of my life. Her music reminds me to love myself, be kind to myself whilst also being humble and grateful for all that I do have.

Her music brought me so much inner peace when experiencing housing instability and navigating childhood traumas.”

Simone Biles 

Simone is considered one of gymnastics’ greatest athletes. She rose to fame in 2013 – winning two World Championship golds aged just 16. She followed that with four Worlds golds in 2014 and another four in 2015. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she became the first female U.S. gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Games. Simone famously said, “I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.”

Emily says:

“I mean look at that flip how can you not find it inspiring!

I’ve always loved gymnastics despite my gymnastic talent being limited to a roly poly! Simone’s gymnastics is art. My jaw never fails to drop when I see her perform. I watched her documentary a few years ago and it was so inspiring.

Also she respects her boundaries as shown in the past few years regarding her mental wellbeing. Setting boundaries and knowing your limits take great insight and inner strength, let alone on a world stage and she got so much hate for that which she would not have gotten to that extent if she where a white male for example. The best bit is that after all this, she did a medal winning performance despite all the hate.”

Bell Hooks

Bell Hooks is an author, professor and activist who was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1952 and published more than 30 books in her lifetime, covering topics including race, feminism, capitalism and intersectionality.

Emily says:

“I felt a bit behind the times as I only found about Bell Hooks 5 years ago. I was on an access course and looking at a sociological text book and there was a very small section about black feminism with a quote from Bell. I felt seen in a way I don’t really know if I ever felt seen before. I don’t remember it exactly but it explained the way I felt about none of us being free until we were all free and the need for intersectionality within feminism. I think it activated something inside of me. I remember telling everyone in my class about it and my white friends not getting it.

I turned back to Bell Hooks watching her interviews and speeches during 2020. The year when I feel like my full anti-racist awakening began. I knew stuff before but not to the extent I know now and I’m no longer in denial of systemic issues or pretend that it’s not a big deal when it makes others uncomfortable. Her lifelong dedication to intersectional feminism and anti-racism has helped me learn, grow and self reflect.”

Our YMCA Youth Council continues to go from strength to strength. After their successful trip to Parliament, 8 members of the Youth Council met again to discuss their priorities and actions to bring about positive change.

 

Our Youth Council was only created in June this year and they’ve already visited the Houses of Parliament and taken part in a debate, spent the day with local MP Peter Kyle, and began to impact the way things happen at YMCA DownsLink Group. One of our top priorities in our new 2023-26 strategy (click here to read) is to amplify youth voice and leadership. We want to put young people at the heart of our organisation and the Youth Council is a great platform for our young people to take social action and influence change.

In their recent meeting, members of the Youth Council discussed the actions that had been taken since the last event and agreed that certain issues had been resolved. Their priorities going forward were to focus on maintenance matters, wifi access and overnight stays, and actions have been agreed on with both staff members and the Youth Council to make this happen.

The group also discussed wanting to hear from guest speakers, such as ex-residents or people who had been through a similar experience to them. They were also interested in hearing from local campaigners, politicians and celebrities who work to bring about positive changes in society. If you, or anyone you know would be interested in speaking to our Youth Council, please click here to get in touch.

The meeting finished with a workshop discussion on ‘what a positive future looks like’. The group spoke about mental health, community engagement, work and stability. The Youth Council also discussed the barriers to these things, highlighting stigma, discrimination, lack of skills or opportunities, financial struggles and poor mental health. To overcome these barriers, they hope to educate employers about vulnerable people, get involved in their local communities, potentially set up a peer support scheme and continue to learn important life skills.

It’s inspiring to see the Youth Council’s dedication to making a difference in their lives and the lives of their fellow residents who they are representing. They are a great reminder of the power of youth voice and how important it is to give young people a platform for positive change.

This summer players, ex players, and supporters gathered at Horsham YMCA Football Club ground in Gorings Mead to celebrate 125 years of grassroots football being played at the pitch and reveal their new kit.

 

The club has been at the heart of the community and provided sporting opportunities, to people of all ages, over the years.  The club has supported many young players to go on to play in adult leagues and has been a focal point for youth development. Most recently the club has submitted planning permission to install an all-weather Artificial Grass Pitch to ensure the site remains as a sustainable, community football pitch for generations to come.

The club has had a successful season, click here for their latest match results. The club use their ‘Youth Development Pathway’, to equip young players with the skills and experience to enable them to launch their football careers in the adult game. Most excitingly many of last season’s U18 players were able to represent the club at both U23 and 1st team level and U18 players making a total of 168 1st Team appearances!

Established in 1898 Horsham YMCA Football Club has been playing at the Herbert Direct sponsored ground since 1929. There is a long and proud history of football being played at the site, but the facilities are outdated. We’ve summited detailed plans to Horsham District Council’s planning committee for an all-weather 3G pitch at Horsham YMCA Football Club which is supported by the Sussex Football Association, the Horsham District Youth League, local football clubs and local YMCA Centres.

By installing an all-weather 3G pitch and improving the facilities the club will become useable by a wider and more diverse group of people of all ages. In line with the recent Horsham Blueprint plan, it will provide a much needed, high quality, local 3G artificial grass  pitch, open to community use.

As well as being a local amenity, with opportunities to hire the club house for community events and groups, the 3G pitch will provide a home for a range of diverse local players and teams.

Ahead of submitting planning, we consulted widely with the local community to gather their views. There is widespread support across the community for the installation of a 3G pitch at the ground, which will be run as a social enterprise.  To address concerns around how an increase in use of the pitch might impact immediate neighbours, the submitted plans include a suggestion for a reduced speed limit along Gorings Mead, a Travel and Transport Plan for the site to manage traffic and parking, secure bicycle storage, measures to control noise from the pitch, and the installation of the new focused low energy LED energy flood lights.

Paul Saunders Sussex County FA Project Manager commented,

“We’re delighted that so many partners and funders have come together to save this historic football pitch and ensure it remains as a vital local amenity for future generations. Developing the Horsham YMCA FC site to an all-weather pitch will future proof this much-loved ground and provide sporting opportunities for a wide range of local teams of all ages and abilities.”

As the biggest youth charity in Sussex, we’re committed to improving the lives of vulnerable young people and working in the heart of communities. Ensuring that this vital local amenity is protected for future generations is the key aim of the development.

For more information about the development, click here.

We’re over the moon that we have 3 finalists in the national YMCA Youth Matters Awards 2023!

 

Randy Yesca – Young Achiever of the Year

Chantal Greenfield – Young Leader of the Year

Temesgen Beyena – Young Volunteer of the Year

To find out more about our incredible nominees, click here.

We would also like to thank you for voting and supporting all our nominees this year. YMCA England and Wales announced that there was a record-breaking 17,500 public votes over the past few weeks. And it is great to see that there are 19 different YMCAs represented across the award categories.

The finalists will attend a prestigious awards ceremony in London on Friday 3rd November where the winners of each category will be announced. Twelve coveted awards will be up for grabs across a range of categories, epitomising the incredible work being done to transform lives and enrich communities daily.

Watch the video below to see last year’s highlights:

We will of course keep you updated with how they get on this year. It goes without saying, they’re all already winners in our eyes.

Below is a personal reflection from Elly McKay Smith, our chaplain who was recently ordained.

Those that know me, know that I have had what I heard as a dual calling – not only to work with young people (and our staff), but I have also felt the call to rural ministry. So alongside working four days a week for YMCA DownsLink Group, I have been undergoing a process of discerning what that might look like. This initially involved lots of conversations with people to see if I had a real vocation or if it was just a passing whim. But they couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm no matter how hard they tried.

After an online series of interviews during lockdown, I was recommended for training by the Church of England and have been attending St Mellitus Theological College in London, firstly online and then in person on a Tuesday, with residentials away in Derbyshire and on one occasion Devon for the weekend.

Training on a part time basis isn’t easy, especially when it’s been a decade or so since you have charged up your grey matter with anything of substance, but with support from loads of people and from my lovely colleagues, I have very nearly finished studying. I say, very nearly, as being ordained is a complicated system. Now I have completed the first part of study and on the 24th of June I was ordained Deacon by Bishop Ruth at Chichester Cathedral. This gives me the title Reverend, allows me to wear a dog collar and has given me two churches that I will serve my curacy at.

So, what’s a curacy I hear you ask?
Well, it’s the practical part. Where I learn where to stand, what to do and when to do it within a church service. Then I also learn about pastoral care of my parishioners, take home communion to those unable to attend church, pray for those in need. I help with baptisms, funerals, and weddings and all manner of things that crop up. So far this has included a pet service (yes really – ‘bring your pets to church day’ is real!) and preparation to be part of a service at the Festival of Transport over the bank holiday weekend. I am not going to be bored that’s for sure!

One of the nicest things about being ordained was that I was with people that are of a similar mindset as I am, have faith, and want to use their gifts to make the world a better place. Of the eleven people ordained on the 24th, DLG had association with three of them. Along with myself, Sue Anson – former West Sussex chaplain – and Tracey Flintcroft, a volunteer in Worthing, were also ordained.

SO what’s changed? Wearing a clerical collar has caused me a few amusing moments so far. Walking round my local Tesco I have had men bow to me ! Something I could get used too.

Residents have been amusing in their reaction, some looking so far up as to avoid looking and appearing to stare. My Muslim friends in Guildford expressing joy and calling me Shaika. But then I found myself being brought back to earth by a resident telling me as he was Orthodox and they don’t recognise women in the Diaconate; it didn’t mean anything.

But, by far the funniest so far has been when I was on the tube in London during Pride. I was on my way to St Pauls Cathedral to take part in a service when  a very handsome cowboy came onto the packed train dressed immaculately in Barbie pink.

He gently bent forward as he asked me if I was dressed up. NO I responded. WAS he, I asked? Much hilarity broke out. Apparently, people were shocked to realise that a Deacon can have a sense of humour.

Find out more about our chaplaincy service and how it makes a difference to the lives of young people in our supported housing HERE.