YMCA DownsLink Group is the biggest youth charity in Sussex & Surrey
Every year we support over 10,00 children, young people and their families - transforming young lives. We work to tackle the causes of youth homelessness and give young people in crisis the opportunity to create a brighter future.
2020 was a tough year for us all, but, for already vulnerable young people, the impact of COVID-19 was dramatic. As the largest youth homelessness charity in the South-East, we saw a staggering 61% increase in the number of young people presenting as homeless compared to the previous year.
2019/2020 in Statistics
For young people there were also additional family pressures caused by lockdown, so family breakdown became the number one cause of youth homelessness. Despite the challenges, we continued to deliver our vital housing & support projects, and adapted our counselling and advice services to ensure we could still help all young people in need, to belong, contribute and thrive in our local communities.
“Just walking through the doors of the YMCA and seeing the staff and the residents and having banter with them and talking to them. It’s just like having a home away from home and having a sense of family. I think you can’t really put a price on that…”
YMCA DownsLink Group Resident
How our work makes a difference
Susie’s story
Susie ended up alone at 18 when her little sister was taken into care. She was struggling to cope and stopped going to college. Since moving into our 24-hour supported accommodation she is thriving. She's back at college and dreams of being an astrophysicist.
Dani’s story
Dani's life had been chaotic and unstable. Her social worker referred her to YMCA DownsLink Group, and, with the help of her YMCA WiSE project worker, she began to make better decisions around relationships and her future.
Caleb’s Story
Some emotional issues made life difficult for Caleb, aged 8. A Dialogue school counsellor was able to help him talk things through in a safe place.
