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

Weโ€™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 weโ€™re not there yet.ย  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.

1 in 62

young people were ย UK were estimated to be facing homelessness in 2023-2024

How our work makes a difference

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.

Dee’s story

Dee dreams of being a champion. She wants to represent Britain as part of the GB boxing team. Despite facing challenges as a teenager, with our support, sheโ€™s thriving and is working hard to turn her dreams into reality. ย 

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.

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