YMCA Worthing - YMCA DownsLink Group

YMCA Worthing

141 years

supporting children & young people in Worthing and local communities.

63 young people

given a safe home every night.

142

volunteers supported our work last year

Preventing youth homelessness in Worthing

Vulnerable children and young people have never been more at risk. We provide vital services so that young people in Worthing, who may have had a difficult start in life, can create a brighter future.

Our impact in Worthing

In Worthing we provide a range of services for children and young people, 16 to 25, which act as a 'safety-net' to catch those at risk. From providing youth clubs and support & advice, to giving a home to those who are in crisis and facing homelessness, we change lives.

Children and young people facing homelessness in Worthing can find a safe, supportive home with us. Our 24 hour supported housing is so much more than 'just a room'. We provide wraparound support so that our residents can get the emotional support, life skills and help back into education, training or employment to enable them to 'move on' successfully to independence. Our dedicated staff (and volunteers) help young people develop the tools they need to reach their full potential.

More information about our services

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Meet some of the team

Our staff provide young people with the support they need to reach their full potential. We wouldn't be able to transform young lives without them. Here is what some of our staff, past and present, have to say about their job.

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Other services for young people at risk

Mind the Gap

Our Mind The Gap Emotional Health Support service offers up to 6 sessions of tailored directive emotional health support to young people living in Worthing and surrounding areas. As well as helping young people to identify coping and self-help strategies, the support utilizes a social prescribing approach to help the young person identify ongoing support. The support sessions can be delivered flexibly, through either face-to-face sessions (specific location to be discussed following referral but could be the Worthing library/your school/a community space) or virtually using zoom or phone calls.

The service aims to offer an accessible pathway into support for young people who ‘fall through the gaps’ in other service provision. This may include young people transitioning between services (eg. CAMHS to AMHS), young people who experience barriers to accessing support (eg. Only offered group interventions / not offered face-to-face) or for those who would benefit from support in identifying an ongoing support pathway.

How to access: We encourage anyone who would like to access our Mind the Gap Emotional Health service to fill in a referral form (download here) and email the form to: [email protected] and a member of the Worthing team will be in touch.

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Helping young people stay safe

How you can help

Donate

£12 could give a young person facing homelessness a safe place to stay

Sponsor a room

40p a day could change the life of a young person in your area.

Fundraise

Taking part in fundraising challenges means we can keep transforming young lives.

Contact information for housing advice

We run one 24 hour supported housing projects in the area, for young people between the ages of 16 and 25.

We also manage several 'Transitional Properties' across Worthing for young people who are capable of managing a tenancy and are ready for independent living. These young people still have access to a key worker to provide housing related support.

If you are a young person at risk, or have concerns about someone, contact us through the following;

  • If you are a young person and in housing crisis you can access our service by speaking to Worthing Borough Council.
  • If you are interested in supporting the work of YMCA Worthing Foyer contact us: 01903 208269

For more information about our supported housing click here

How our work helps

Jack’s story

Jack came out as gay when he was 15. His family struggled to accept it and it caused tension and arguments at home. The situation came to a head when Jack was 16. After a huge row his Dad threw him out.

Tina’s story

Tina found the support she received from our YMCA WiSE service invaluable following a difficult period in her life when she had been groomed by two older men.

Poppy’s Story

Poppy didn’t realise she was being subjected to sexual exploitation. Spending time with a YMCA WiSE project worker opened her eyes to the reality of her situation.

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YMCA enables people to develop their full potential in mind, body and spirit. Inspired by and faithful to our Christian values, we create supportive, inclusive and energising communities, where young people can truly belong, contribute and thrive.

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