YMCA DownsLink Group’s WiSE project has received a grant of £77,043 from the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Safe Space Sussex Funding Network.
YMCA DownsLink Group is a registered charity that works across Sussex and Surrey providing a range of services and projects to children, young people and families in the South East of England.
The charity have a particular focus young people who find themselves on the fringes of society and in of need support, and impacts a number of areas including mental wellbeing, sexual exploitation and young offenders.
Aiming to provide services that will lead to better life chances and a positive future for young people, these services provide:
425 supported housing units across Sussex and Surrey, 2 counselling centres, 2 youth and advice centres, 6 specialist advice projects, 258 playscheme and after school club places, 15 alternative education programmes, 12,000 schools counselling sessions, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities and Nursery and childcare provision.
In doing so, each year the charity which consists of over 400 dedicated staff, supports over 15,000 young people operating from centres in Brighton & Hove, Guildford, Horsham, Crawley, Worthing, Eastbourne and Hastings, and has been serving the community of Brighton & Hove for over 90 years.
Commenting on the funding award, YMCA WiSE Project Manger, Clara Larribeau-Wade, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from the Safe Space Funding Network, which will enable us to provide support to children and young people of any gender, who might be vulnerable to or victims of sexual exploitation. This will include 1-to-1 support, group work, community awareness campaigns and specialist support and training to other professionals, in both East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
“We know that children and young people engage well with services provided by local charities, which are independent of, but add value to the support provided by social workers and the police.”
The Safe:Space Sussex Funding Network was set up to assist the delivery of projects which support victims and witnesses of crime across Sussex.
The quality assurance framework within it, monitors benefits to victims, witnesses and the community across Sussex and makes sure services commissioned are the best they can be, as promised in the Police & Crime Plan.
Within the Police and Crime Plan (PCP) the Commissioner states a priority of protecting our vulnerable and helping victims to cope and recover from crime and abuse:
– Commissioning high-quality services which support victims
– Prioritising access to services for vulnerable victims
– Enhancing our understanding and meeting the needs of victims in Sussex
Commending YMCA DownsLink Group on its successful bid, Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne said:
“YMCA WiSE is a great example of an innovative local project that aims to help victims and protect our most vulnerable.
“Since the Funding Network was first opened in February we have had 27 approved providers join. I opened the network for funding applications on the 4th of June and we received 29 applications. Over £550,000 is being made available to these providers over the next two years which will help to enhance our understanding and meet the needs of victims in Sussex.
“I look forward to visiting the team at YMCA WiSE and following the progress of their project over the next year.”
YMCA WiSE Project Manger Clara Larribeau-Wade will be joining the Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, on 22nd August to accept the grant award and explain how the funding will help victims to cope and recover from crime and abuse in Sussex.
Committed to transforming local communities so that all children, young people and families truly belong, contribute and thrive, this funding will be very beneficial to the YMCA DownsLink Group.
To find out more please visit www.ymcadlg.org.
Featured Image via YMCA Downslink Group’s official Twitter account: @YMCADLG
