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The campaign has now expired but it's not too late to support this charity.
Visit the charity's profileChallenge yourself to ride 55 miles through beautiful countryside back to sunny (we hope) Brighton.
To support you in your challenge on event day you will receive a Brighton YMCA branded 'technical' t-shirt, free lunch, great support and roaming mechanics. You can even grab yourself a well-earned drink in the fully licensed event village at the finish line back in sunny (we hope) Brighton.
We ask that you commit to raising £150 (excluding registration fee and gift aid) to help support the work that Brighton YMCA undertakes. Every penny that you raise will help transform someones life.
Its hard to walk down the street in Brighton without seeing someone who's homeless. In 2017 Brighton had the 2nd largest homeless population in England.
People who are homeless have complex needs which require specialist support. At any one-time Brighton YMCA houses 306 vulnerable people. From those with very chaotic lives needing intensive support and wrap-around services, to those preparing for independent living.
Your donations enable us to provide accommodation, support, counselling and employment services to tackle underlying problems and stop the revolving door of homelessness.
John became homeless following an injury at work which left him with mobility issues, followed by redundancy. He cared for his Grandmother for a number of years whilst she had cancer.
I used to sleep in alleyways or in front of stores on the ground. Its quite frightening because you dont know who is around you or what could happen. ... Its frightening to be so open out on the streets. It can make you feel hopeless. Its scary at times.
Everyone just wants to be somewhere warm and with a roof over their head. There are so many places you cant be in the day or the night, everywhere becomes unwelcoming. It feels like youre someone whos lost somewhere. You dont know where youre going or where you can go for help, or even a shower.
John moved into Brighton YMCAs William Collier House where skill support workers provided support to gain valuable lifeskills, help with managing his depression and encouraged into volunteering to gain employability skills.
Once I found out about volunteering opportunities, I started to volunteer internally, within Brighton YMCA. Ive got lots of training through volunteering at Brighton YMCA on communication skills, professional boundaries, safeguarding It built my people skills.
John went onto volunteer with Albion in the community, British Heart Foundation and YMCA Downslink where he was awarded volunteer of the year. As Johns confidence and ability grew he was able to move to Brighton YMCAs lower supported accommodation to prepare for fully independent living.
Being homeless can sometimes feel like youve got no control. Im grateful that my support workers helped and nudged me in the right direction for me, and not just what they wanted me to do. Thats how I found the right thing for me to fit into.
Take on the challenge and help the many people, like John, who need the support that Brighton YMCA provides.
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
