About us
Everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become.
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.
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 a charity working to transform the lives of children and young people (16-24) across Sussex and Surrey.
We work to prevent youth homelessness and last year we gave a home to 1,094 young people every night. We also reach more than 7,000 children, young people and their families through our other services such as, counselling, support and advice, mediation and youth work, so that all young people can belong, contribute and thrive.
Many children and young people experience extraordinary challenges and adversity that can prevent their lives starting well. The ever-increasing level of risk and complexity they face has driven our services to be needed now more than ever before.
129,000 young people asked for help from their local council in 2021/22 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness.Â
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 welcome
We welcome
all who need space to feel secure, respected, heard and valued
We inspire
We inspire
people to realise their full potential
We support
We support
people to maximise opportunity and choice
We speak out
We speak out
on the issues that are important to children and young people and help them find their own voice
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.
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. Read our History of the YMCA in Sussex and Surrey to find out more about our fascinating history.
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.
