No young person chooses to be homeless

We need your help to transform young lives

We work to ensure that all children and young people have a fair chance to fulfill their potential.

Dylan’s story

Dylan with curley brown hair and braces smiling at the camera, sat in a grass field
Dylan* ran away from home when he was 14 after being stuck at the centre of his parents' violent divorce. He started selling and taking drugs to ...
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Mapalo’s story

Mapalo sat at a desk smiling at he camera
Mapalo's childhood Mapalo had a difficult childhood. When she was 7, her mum suffered a heart attack which permanently altered her personality. Not only was this scary ...
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Rukshi’s story

When Rukshi was twenty she experienced an awful event which changed her life and left her homeless. This led to a couple of very difficult years, in ...
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Becky’s story

Becky's Story
Becky is 19 and left home after her Dad’s drinking became too much for her to cope with. Her mum died when she was 10 and her ...
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Jack’s story

Jack's Story
Jack came out as gay when he was 15. His family struggled to accept it and it caused tension and arguments at home. The situation came to ...
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Susie’s story

Susie's story
[Spoiler: this story has a very happy ending - do make sure you read to the end] Susie was the second youngest from a big family with ...
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What we do

YMCA DownsLink Group is a charity that works to prevent youth homelessness across Sussex and Surrey. Every night, we provide accommodation to more than 750 young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

How we transform young lives

Through our youth advice center's, community and school counselling services, family mediation and other youth focused services, we also provide additional support to 10,000 children, young people and families each year.

Where we work

Our main center's include: Brighton & Hove, Guildford, Horsham, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing.

How to get involved

1

YMCA DownsLink Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

2

By volunteering for YMCA DLG will you gain experience, learn new skills and meet some great people.

3

By partnering with us your business will be driving positive and lasting change for young people in your community.

Latest news and blogs

Matt, business owner of Big Hug Brewing, stood outside Brighton Youth Advice Centre with six member of staff smiling

Doing good by doing business: Big Hug Brewing

We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Big Hug Brewing via the Work for Good scheme. Work For ...
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Room to Rant gig, all young men on stage at the end freestyling

Room to Rant – Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, we interviewed Room to Rant counsellor Katy. She told us ...
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mental health awareness week: 3 young people sat at a table laughing and talking with one member of staff stood behind smiling

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Did you know that YMCA DownsLink Group is one of the biggest providers of wellbeing and counselling services ...
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What we do

At YMCA Downslink we focus on the following key areas of work:

Accommodation

We offer housing and accommodation services, as well as housing advice services, to young people across Sussex and Surrey.

Family Work

YMCA DownsLink Group offers family support services to people across Sussex and Surrey. In addition, we offer family counselling to aid in family relationships.

Health & Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a concept that encompasses both physical and mental health. Our services provide benefits in both of these areas.

Support & Advice

We offer support and advice services to young people in Sussex and Surrey. These range from services offering support with a specific issue, to more general advice services.

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Training & Education

YMCA DownsLink Group’s Learning Team provide a variety of opportunities to re-engage vulnerable young people with a range of needs and learning barriers, back into a learning environment.

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YMCA enables people to develop their full potential in mind, body and spirit. Inspired by and faithful to our Christian values, we create supportive, inclusive and energising communities, where young people can truly belong, contribute and thrive.

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