We are delighted to extend our heartfelt thanks to Co-op Patcham for their generous donation of £250 worth of goods to our Youth Advice Centre (YAC) food market.
YMCA DownsLink Group, represented by our Brighton YAC support worker Taya Amit and Corporate and Community Fundraising Manager Mark Purser, were invited to the Co-op branch in Ladies Mile, Brighton, by manager of Ditchling and Patcham Co-op Jak MacArthur Davies to fill a trolley with pantry staples and fresh produce to stock our food market.
Jak, pictured here with YAC support worker Tanya, was delighted to take part in the shopping session.
At YAC, young people can select over £20 worth of groceries for just £5, choosing from a rotating selection of items, including convenience foods that can be prepared with limited appliances. While not a traditional food bank, our food market is designed to respond to food emergencies in a trauma-informed and dignified way.
Brighton YAC manager Leon Groombridge said: “This contribution from Co-op will make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people in Brighton who rely on our social grocery store to access healthy, low-cost food and essential items. It will also support our efforts to provide more variation in our food market.
“Co-op’s support helps us continue to offer this vital service, ensuring that young people can meet their basic needs while accessing the wider support available at YAC. Long-term, we aim to grow the youth-led element of the food market, empowering users to shape how it’s run, contribute back to their community and develop valuable skills and representation.”
Thank you again to Co-op Patcham for supporting Brighton’s young people.
Read here about YAC Brighton and its food market.
