Last week, a group of seven families and some staff from our Brighton Young Families Project were invited to visit Santa’s magical grotto in Hassocks.
They were welcomed by Clive the Elf, founder of the Budding Foundation that runs Santa’s grotto at South Downs Nurseries in Hassocks. The Budding Foundation provided tickets to our young families so they could enjoy a magical day out and meet Santa!
All of the children took part in a word hunt game, followed by meeting Santa and talking about their Christmas wishes. They also all received a special Christmas present at the end, and even enjoyed a slice of cake together to top off a brilliant day.
“It was lovely to meet and spend time with everyone who came to Santa’s Magical Woodland Retreat” – Clive the Elf.
Everyone had a magical time and really got into the festive spirit. We want to say a huge thank you to Clive and the Budding Foundation for making the day possible and spreading joy amongst our young families.
The Budding Foundation are a charity that raise funds to help improve the lives of young people, with the emphasis on those who have suffered social deprivation, trauma or disability. The charity also donated garden furniture to some of our supported accommodations in Brighton over the summer. Read more about that here.
Ben had a difficult time growing up and was thrown out of home at just 15. He ended up in a hostel with adults which impacted his mental health. Through the perseverance of a teacher, Ben was given a home in our 24-hour supported accommodation and life got better.
We caught up with him at the Filfil café in Brighton, where he now works as a chef, to find out how he turned his life around and the part that YMCA DownsLink Group played in getting him there.
Ben tells us his story, in his own words:
Life before YMCA
I had such a difficult childhood and became a bit of a problem child, but it wasn’t really my fault. I had years of being abused as a kid. When I went to high school, I was a bit all over the place, getting excluded from school and being in trouble a lot. My mum couldn’t deal with that, so she kicked me out when I was 15. At that age, because I was male and mid-teens, I wasn’t seen as a priority, so they stuck me in adult accommodation and it was horrible, with walls crumbing around me and people screaming every day. It was such a scary place to be.
Ben and Amal, Filfil cafe owner.
I luckily had 2 school teachers who rang up every day and said; “he can’t stay here, it’s horrible”. One teacher would come and pick me up from the hostel and take me to school each day. I’m so fortunate that my teachers kept going and I got moved into 24-hour accommodation with YMCA DownsLink Group.
I was in such a dark place. I spent so many years wanting to kill myself, I couldn’t see happiness and thought there was no hope. But then the lovely people at YMCA gave me a nice home to live in and a safe space.
Living at YMCA
They (YMCA project workers) met with me a few times a week and would sit down with me, talk to me, and teach me. At the time I don’t think I really appreciated how good it was, I must have been horrible back then. But looking back, I realise how important it was. Those people are saints, they have to deal with all different people each with their own problems, stories etc.
I think if anyone who is living with YMCA could look past the dark moment they’re in and see that there is hope and there is a chance for people to live a normal life. I never would have believed it back then if I was told that I could have got a job, live independently and have a good life. It’s all thanks to a couple of teachers and the people at YMCA who never gave up.
There were many times when I was living at YMCA that I probably should have been kicked out as I was raucous and misbehaving. I didn’t really realise while I was living there that they didn’t give up on me, they gave me a chance.
At YMCA I could go downstairs in my slippers and sit with people who were going through similar things to me. Without this, I would have been sat in my room alone and wouldn’t go out or want to be near people. My first experience of cooking, cleaning dishes and hoovering was with YMCA, and we had room checks to make us look after our rooms. All these little things that at the time I didn’t realise were building me up, my confidence and life skills. And the staff in that office were angels, they stick with you and cater to everyone’s needs. There was always somewhere there.
I was very fortunate that they looked after me and I got a job when I was 16 as a kitchen porter in a hotel. It was incredible. I then moved on to cheffing for 4 years in that hotel while living at YMCA. It was nice to have the roots and the structure given to me so that I could do that.
Life after YMCA
I left YMCA to go to France and worked ski seasons – I did that for 7 years and it was incredible. I don’t think I would have ever been able to even consider going to work in France if it wasn’t for that time at the YMCA. In between ski seasons I was coming back to Brighton and doing 15-hour shifts. When I started in the industry, I was finishing at 1am, walking home crying, wondering why I was doing these long shifts into the night, but I stuck with it, kept going, and it’s turned out really well in the end. It was brutal but I learnt to organise myself.
I also did a qualification and am a qualified chef. I spent nearly 15 years of being in the hospitality industry and working like a dog and now I’m living the good life with a proper 9-5, living in a flat with my lovely boyfriend and having a good life.
What would I say to someone in that situation?
Don’t give up, keep trying, keep going, everything gets better in time. You might not see it now, you might not see the light at the end of the tunnel but with people like YMCA, you’ll gain the tools you need over time. Be easy on yourself. I used to beat myself up, blame myself for things that were out of my control. Every day you get through is a success story. Make it through. Wake up each morning and think ‘I can do this’.
My final message of hope is that I was as messed up as you guys were, if not more. But the days get less difficult to deal with. What helped me was breaking it down into small achievable goals. For example, today I’ll make my bed and brush my teeth – if I do that then I’ve won, no matter what else happens today. Don’t think, ‘oh I need to get myself a flat, get a job, stop feeling this pain’ – this won’t happen in a day. But, if you set yourself a goal that you can achieve then you can pat yourself on the back when you’ve done it and then the next day you can think, I did that yesterday, so today I can try something else.
We had a brilliant evening at the national YMCA Youth Matters Awards on Friday evening. It was a truly inspirational experience. All of the awards recognise the amazing young people at YMCA and the projects and people that support them.
We were delighted to be finalists for 4 awards. Our Brighton Youth Advice Centre which has been supporting young people in the city for 30 years was up for two Youth Matters awards: Support & Advice Project of the Year and Health and Wellbeing Project of the Year for their Food Market. They sadly missed out, but it was great to see them alongside some other amazing projects and as was repeatedly said throughout the night – absolutely everybody at the awards was a winner.
We were thrilled that our Y’s Girls project won the Family & Youth Work Project of the Year award. It’s a brilliant mentoring project which works to support young women aged 9-14 identified as at risk of poor mental health, developing confidence and building resilience.
Our resident Adi was a finalist for Youth Matters Young Achiever of the Year. Like many of the other categories, the stories of the 3 finalists for this award had us in tears as they had all overcome extreme adversity to achieve things that none of them deemed possible before the help of YMCA. Adi unfortunately missed out on the win. However…
In a dramatic twist Adi WON the Lewis Sewell Memorial Award (The Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust) for courage, resilience and positivity. The award was presented by celebrated choreographer and original Strictly judge, Arlene Phillips, who said:
“He is an incredible young man, and I am proud to present the award to him. Let’s hope that his future is in the arts because it sounds to me that he well deserves it.”
Watching Adi’s face light up as he realised he was about to win was a moment we’ll never forget. In his acceptance speech, Adi said:
“I want to say thank you to the beautiful YMCA staff, and the beautiful Jessica, this is all because of you.
I also want to say, especially to people that came from a poor background, from struggle or hard places, that where you came from is not who you are, and it is clearly not where your destination is going to be. Me, and the other nominees, are living proof of that.”
Not only did Adi win a shiny award with his name on, but also a donation in support of his journey in performing arts to help pay for training, equipment, travel to auditions etc. On top of this all, he also received an invitation to perform in their West End show next year! Watch this space…
Jessica Griffiths, Inspire Coach Guildford, tells us more about the evening:
“What an incredible event for some of our young people to be part of. I don’t think they stopped taking photos and videos all evening as there was so much to take in.
I loved an opportunity to get my glad rags on and felt spoilt being served a delicious three course meal and watching the entertainment and dancing at the end of the evening. The best thing for me, was being able to support my nominee and one of the YMCA DLG Youth Matters finalists, Adi. He was totally buzzing for the whole evening and so many people went up to him to congratulate him, I don’t know how long it will take him to come down.
I feel honoured to have been there, be part of it and to work for an organisation who work so hard to support all of the young people and families that we do. The staff and volunteers are amazing.”
Jayne Barber, Deputy Manager at Guildford Foyer, also said:
“It was lovely to be allowed to blub a little, smile a lot and whoop and holler at all the remarkable achievements of the young people , services , staff and volunteers that received recognition.”
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for Adi, Brighton Youth Advice Centre and the Y’s Girls project. And of course, a massive congratulations to all of our finalists – we couldn’t be prouder!
After thirteen years with YMCA DownsLink Group, Chas Walker has decided to step down as CEO. The Board of Trustees have accepted his resignation and support his decision. We would like to thank him for his dedicated service to the organisation and his commitment to improving the lives of the 1,000s of young people we support each year. We wish him well for all that comes next.
Chas’s departure creates an opportunity for someone with fresh energy and perspective to lead the organisation and help us shape our new long-term strategy. As the external environment in which we work continues to change, we need to adapt so that we can continue to respond to the challenges and ever-growing needs of our residents and service users.
We will begin the search for a new CEO in the new year. In the meantime, we’re pleased to announce that current trustee, Andrew Taylor, will take up the position of Interim CEO, stepping down from his role as a Trustee and Chair of our Business Planning & Finance Committee in order to support the organisation during this time of transition. Andrew has served as a trustee for the past three years and has a wealth of relevant experience in organisational leadership and development.
As an organisation we are committed to positively transform the lives of children, young people, and adults in our communities.
Big Give Christmas Challenge: One donation, twice the impact
YMCA DownsLink Group is delighted to have been chosen to take part in the UK’s biggest, online match funding campaign – the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022! The campaign launches at 12pm on 29th November and runs until 12pm on 6th December.
Our goal is to raise £10,000 in donations during the week of the appeal, which will be matched by our pledge partners The Together Fund, Best at Digital and Burt Brill and Cardens. Meaning a total of £20,000 to support young people in crisis this winter.
Big Give Christmas Appeal 2022
How do I donate to the appeal?
All donations must be made to our Big Give appeal page, any time during the week of the appeal (you won’t be able to donate until the 29th November – but why not join our Big Give Facebook Event to get a reminder). The process is super simple – click donate, choose your donation amount and that’s all there is to it. If the match funding runs out before the appeal ends, you can still donate to help us transform more young lives.
Where your funds will go
Funds raised will enable us to support all those vulnerable, young people we know will walk through our doors this winter. Together, we can provide them with a safe place to stay and the advice and support they need to get back on track and on the path to independence.
The impact of your gift
Charities like ours are facing increased demand for support from young people struggling in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, which is pushing families to breaking point and young people onto the streets.
Over the last two years, demand for our housing service has increased by 37% and we are anticipating an 80% in access to our advice centres this winter. Your gift will ensure we can be there for all who need us, during the coldest months of the year.
How else can I support the campaign?
We appreciate that it is a hard time for everyone right now and that some of you may wish to donate but don’t have the means. Any support you can give us by sharing this campaign or liking us on social media would be gratefully received! Join our Facebook Event to discover how to do this.
We are currently involved in an exciting development opportunity for the community of Horsham. We’re working with YMCA Horsham Football Club, established in 1898, to develop an artificial 3G pitch at the current Gorings Mead ground. We aim to make the site available for the whole community to use, ensuring this precious sporting facility remains accessible to all and viable for the next 125 years.
As well as being the home of YMCA Horsham FC, the pitch will also host a wide range of other community teams. One of the key benefits of the new pitch will be the opportunity for wider participation. It already has the support of many local teams (youth, women, veterans) who will now be able to train regularly, whatever the weather. It will provide a community space that can also be used by other local groups for a range of outdoor and indoor activities.
Plan for the 3G pitch
The Gorings Mead Artificial 3G facility will offer:
Home ground for a range of local adult men & women’s football teams plus number of youth teams from football clubs and other organisations in the Horsham area
Structured youth pathway for talented footballers to progress within their chosen sport
Secure this historic site for football and other sports, making it fit for the future and retaining the green space
A facility that can be used year-round by people of all ages
Landscaping which will make the site more attractive to visit and walk around
New LED flood lights which are more focused and environmentally friendly
Adult & youngster’s groups to rent space for meetings and activities
The proposal will be going to the planning committee before the end of 2022 and if succesful it is hoped that the work will take place in Summer 2023. The project aims to secure funding via a unique partnership of YMCA DownsLink Group, the Football Foundation, and club fundraising. Remarkably, there is also a capable and willing team of mostly volunteers prepared to help deliver the project for the community.
Everyone had a magical time and really got into the festive spirit. We want to say a huge thank you to Clive and the Budding Foundation for making the day possible and spreading joy amongst our young families.
We were delighted to be finalists for 4 awards. Our 
