About us
Find out more about what we do and the services we offer.
Find out more about where we work
Find out more about how you can get involved in supporting us
We are the leading charity in Sussex and Surrey dedicated to preventing youth homelessness and supporting the emotional and mental health of children and young people.
Every day, we provide safe homes and specialist services that help young people build independence, develop life skills, grow their self-confidence, and strengthen their emotional wellbeing — so that every young person can belong, contribute, and feel hopeful about their future.
Last year, we provided a home to 896 young people every night. We also supported more than 5,500 children, young people, and their families through services including counselling, advice, support, and mediation.
Many young people face extraordinary challenges and adversity that can make it difficult for their lives to start well. The increasing levels of risk and complexity they encounter mean our services are needed now more than ever.
129,000 young people asked for help from their local council in 2021/22 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Our mission
To help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health
Our values
We do
what's right
We work
with heart
We build
real connection
Our strategy 2023 - 2026
Following a period of organisational growth and a global pandemic, this strategy sets out YMCA DownsLink Group’s ambitions over the next three years.
Now more than ever, we recognise the need to be clear why we do what we do and how we improve outcomes for more children and young people, whilst also consolidating and optimising our resources for the future.
Our history
YMCA is the largest and oldest youth movement in the world operating in 120 countries and providing vital services for over 65 million people. YMCA DownsLink Group is a formation of local YMCAs across Sussex and Surrey. We can trace our legal history to Hove YMCA and in 2019 we celebrated our 100th anniversary which coincided with YMCAs 175th anniversary.
Proud to be a part of the YMCA federation
Everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become.
YMCA DownsLink Group is proud to be a member of the federation of YMCA England and Wales. We contribute to their vision and purpose: An inclusive Christian movement transforming communities so that all young people can belong, contribute and thrive.
YMCA believes in fairness and opportunity. There are essential building blocks for a full and rewarding life: a safe home; acceptance; guidance; friendship; physical and mental health; academic support; employment skills; and access to real opportunities. Many young people have never known these things; other people have lost one or more as they grew up, but we all need them. All of us. At YMCA, we provide these critical foundations for a fresh, strong start for young people and a better quality of life in the community.
