Transforming Young Lives - YMCA DownsLink Group

Our impact

How we transform young lives

Our impact

How we transform young lives

The work we do every year changes lives. We step in to prevent children and young people from crisis by providing supported accommodation, support & advice, family mediation and counselling. By supporting young people, at this crucial stage in their lives (16-24), we can help them change their lives and create a better future for themselves.

Our impact in numbers

Young people who use our services
young people we give a home to
children and young people counselling and therapeutic services
success rate of young people moving on
number of shared meals provided in projects
number of people supported through support and advice services

Why your support is needed now

We’re doing all we can to break the cycle of homelessness for young people in your community. We positively impact the lives of over 10,000 children, young people and families each year. But we’re not there yet.  The need for our support and yours has never been greater.

70%

cuts in funding to youth services in the last 10 years.

20%

increase in demand for our housing support since the pandemic.

27%

of the young people we help have come from the care system.

1 in 20

children experience the death of a parent before the age of 16.

20%

of all homeless people in the UK are aged between 16 and 24.

40%

of 16 to 24 year olds have been temporarily homeless at some point.

Mapalo's Story

Mapalo sat at a desk smiling at he camera

At 19, student Mapalo Bray faced homelessness, until we stepped in. Your gifts help people like Mapalo turn their life around to build a positive future.

How our work makes a difference

Rukshi’s story

Rukshi was left homeless at 20 and lost custody of her daughter during a couple of difficult years. She’s now living in our 24 hour supported accommodation and has begun to rebuild her life and her relationship with her daughter.

Nathan’s story

Nathan was struggling with his family relationships and mental health after coming out to his family at 15. Our Youth Advice Service found him specialist help.

Leo’s story

An incident at home led to a relationship breakdown between 17 year old Leo and his mum. His mum reached out for help from our Family Mediation Service as she was close to evicting him.

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