YMCA Downslink is asking people to donate £5 so they can give a young person facing homelessness a magical Christmas.
YMCA DownsLink Group, the South-East’s largest charity supporting vulnerable young people, has launched it’s 2021 Christmas fundraising appeal.
It’s asking local people to become ‘Christmas Angels’ and help put a smile on the faces of young people without family to be with.
Every night YMCA DownsLink Group provides a safe home to 763 young people at risk of homelessness, some as young as 16.
Every year, YMCA DownsLink Group’s staff and volunteers give up their time at Christmas to make the festive season special for their young residents.
Any young resident who doesn’t have family to be with is invited to spend Christmas Day with them. Every project across Sussex (Brighton & Hove, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings, Horsham, Mid-Sussex, Worthing) does it slightly differently, but all of them will have a traditional Christmas lunch, games, a personal present and most importantly a family atmosphere. By donating to the campaign you will have a direct impact on a vulnerable young person’s experience of Christmas.
Charlie Worsfold, a former resident explains exactly what it meant to her to spend Christmas with YMCA:
“I spent 2 Christmas in YMCA DownsLink Group. I remember one year I was out of work and spending Christmas Eve there alone with no gifts or cards. I woke to receive a box full of amazing treats, slippers, bath goodies etc and was cooked an amazing dinner. The residents were all so happy and the atmosphere was great.
"I will always appreciate the effort and thought that went into ensuring we were not alone at Christmas. You have no idea what impact that place had on my life and future. I’m so thankful and lucky.”
A young man living with YMCA DownsLink Group last year, said this:
“I can’t believe that someone I don’t even know has donated so I got this gift (trainers). It makes me feel warm inside.”
Key Workers at YMCA DownsLink Group get to know the young people who live with them well, in some cases they’re more like surrogate family.
Money raised by the campaign will enable them to buy something thoughtful and personal that really lets the young person know that they are cared for. It could be something to help them pursue a passion or hobby, or something they desperately need, a decent coat, warm jumper or new trainers.
This was just some of the feedback from young residents who received gifts last year:
“I was so happy to get a lovely pair of shoes. I never have new things.”
“I was excited to get a voucher so I could buy some furniture for my room – it’s made my room feel so homely.”
When you donate, you can also specify which area within Sussex you would like your money to go to so that you can rest assured that you are really helping a vulnerable young person living close to you.
To give a young person without family a magical Christmas visit https://www.ymcadlg.org/loveinabox-christmas-appeal-2021/
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