About us
Our purpose
We work alongside them to make that happen.
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
YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity supporting children and young people across Sussex and Surrey.
We offer: safe homes, mental health support, trusted advice.
We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.
How we work alongside children and young people:
• We listen
• We meet them where they’re at
• We take a trauma‑informed approach
• We prioritise safety in every space and relationship.
Around 60,000 young people across Sussex and Surrey may now need extra support - a number likely to increase over the next five years. Despite national and local recognition that things must change, many young people still cannot access the right support early enough.
Our values
We do
what's right
We work
with heart
We build
real connection
Our strategy 2026-2031
Shaped by what children and young people tell us matters most, our 2026–2031 strategy sets out how we will deepen our impact and extend our reach. It reflects their need for support that is joined up, accessible and built around their lives.
Built on strong foundations, it sets out our ambition to reach more young people earlier and focus on what makes the biggest difference — working in partnership to deliver support that truly meets their needs.
At its heart is our commitment: to work alongside children and young people so they can be safe, feel heard and shape their own futures. Read our full strategy to learn more.
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.
