The 118 Challenge - YMCA DownsLink Group

The 118 Challenge: let’s change lives!

Last year, 118,134 young people went to their council presenting themselves as homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The 118 Challenge aims to raise awareness around the staggering number of 118,134 young people affected by homelessness and to raise funds for our crisis-preventing services for children and young people.

Together, we can help make a difference for young people living in Sussex and Surrey. Take on the 118 Challenge and together we can change lives!

the 118 challenge 2025 bake sale

118,000 reasons to get involved

118,134

16-24 year olds were homeless or at risk of homelessness.

One in 62

young people are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

10,002

young people in the Southeast of England are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Getting involved is easy! Just register your interest through this form and we will send you our fundraising pack where you will find some ideas and instructions on how to set up a Just Giving page.

Once you have set up your Just Giving page, let us know and we will send you some things you can share on your socials. Also, do let us know if you need anything else for your challenge.

Decide what challenge you’re going to take on and from there you can work out how best to raise money;

  • Doing a physical activity? Ask for sponsorship.
  • Doing a bake sale or raffle? Sell cake/tickets for £1.18.
  • Host a dinner party and ask guests to donate £11.80.

See more ideas here.

There are lots of ways you can show your support. 

Fundraise for The 118 Challenge in four easy steps

118 challenge fundraising icons - pick a challenge

Pick your challenge

What will you do?

You could go for a challenge like a skydive or a marathon, or hold an event or an activity such as a bake sale. You can do fundraising on your own or as a team.

118 challenge fundraising icons - pick a date

Book your event

Now book your place or pick the date for your event!

Whether you are taking part in an organised event or arranging your own, please let us know what you’re planning so we can help in any way we can.

118 challenge fundraising icons - tell us

Let us know

Once you have decided what to do (on your own or as part of a group), let us know.

We will send you our fundraising pack with everything you need to get started such as T-shirts or collection tins.

118 challenge fundraising icons - fundraise

And fundraise!

Create your online fundraising page and you're all set.

Your fundraising pack will give you some fundraising tips and guide you in setting up your fundraising page and sharing it with everyone you know!

Ideas

  • bake 118 treats and sell them
  • learn to juggle for 118 seconds straight
  • cycle/run/swim/walk 118km in a month
  • walk 118,000 steps in a week
  • run 11.8 miles
  • swim 118 lengths of a pool
  • host a dinner party and charge £11.80/person
  • do 118 keepy-uppies in a row
  • hold a raffle and sell tickets for £1.18
  • host a second hand book sale and charge £1.18/book
  • play 1 round of golf, 18 holes
  • compliment 118 people throughout the month
  • pick up 118 bits of litter
  • sell pieces of your art/creations for £1.18/£11.80
  • 11hr8m danceathon, walk, other activity
118 challenge women doing tough mudder for charity

Mix it up...

  • 1 bake sale, learn 1 new skill, swim 8km
  • 1 run, 1 cycle, 8 walks
118 challenge - kids doing bake sale for charity

Your support helps young people in Sussex and Surrey

Emi, e-wellbeing Youth Mental Health champion smiling, waring a denim jacket and white t-shirt

Emi’s story

Emi is one of our e-wellbeing Youth Researchers. After experiencing her own mental health struggles at a young age, Emi was determined to help other young people like herself.
Stacy, a teenage girl with blonde hair smiling, wearing a red top.

Stacy’s story

Stacy was referred to our support and advice service after having trouble with her mental health. She started working with one of our support workers and has been feeling a lot happier in herself since. 
Temesgen smiling holding his medal at the end of the DownsLink Challenge

Temesgen’s story

At just 16, Temesgen had to leave his family in Ethiopia and start a new life in the UK. He was given a home with us and received support to learn English, take part in volunteering and join in with YMCA activities.
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