Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The money raised will go directly to the Brighton and Hove Transitional Housing Service. Our Transitional Housing offers safe medium and low supported housing placements to 52 vulnerable young people aged between 18-25 years. Our experienced team support our residents to access the support they need and skills so they can successfully and sustainably move into their own independent accommodation. The support offered is person centred and developed with each young person to meet their needs including accessing education and training, mental and physical wellbeing, substance and alcohol support, asylum support, support to manage money and finances, support to access social and community support as well as helping give them the skills they need to create a brighter, independent, future.

My ROLE:

I am Project Manager for Transitional Housing, Brighton and Hove. I have worked for YMCA DLG in various roles since 2008! Over these 15 years I have felt privileged and humbled to see many hundreds of young people succeed in their personal goals and move on into their own accommodation. We have 9 properties which are homes to our young people - our properties range from small shared flats, shared houses, bedsits, and some self-contained flats.

I love my job, and am proud to provide safe, quality accommodation to young people across Brighton and Hove. I work with a fantastic team to provide support and encouragement to our young people so that they feel settled and can access support, education or employment and realise their aspirations.

Why are we raising money and why is this important?

We are raising money for a Social Fund for our Transitional Housing Service

My team and I are very lucky to work with so many amazing, resilient young people, who come into our Medium and Low Support Transitional Housing Service, many of whom have experienced multiple, complex traumas such as homelessness, (including rough sleeping), Care Experienced, or Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers. We provide a safe, secure home and our experienced team offer person centred, trauma informed support and signposting so residents can link in with partner support agencies and develop the life skills they will need to reach their potential move on to independent accommodation. There are many challenges for young people these days including an increase in the cost of living which has impacted hard on those on a low income.

Due to budget constraints, we no longer have an organisational Social Fund that our young people can apply for. We find that our young people are sometimes in need of basic items. We can refer to food banks, support with budgeting skills, and signpost to money advice, but it is upsetting not to be able to support them with 'one off' payments of what might be a small amount of money for an outgoing which could have a huge impact on their lives.

How much are we hoping to raise and how will these funds help?

My target is to raise at least £400

My team and I came up with the idea that we would like to build a pot of funds for our service that our residents can apply for. I am kickstarting the fundraising with this run and hope to reach my target of £400; My team aims to hold another fundraising event later in the year, perhaps a Pub Quiz, to further top up our Social fund, so watch this space!

A Social Fund will directly benefit our residents, who will be able to apply for the funding. For example, Sam really wants to apply for their provisional driving licence to use as ID which would enable them to gain the employment they want as a personal assistant; Pete really needs help to fund their passport renewal so they can apply for a job as Cabin Crew; Paul needs a replacement basic phone as his broke and this will enable his family, our service and the mental health team to contact him. Jess needs some interview clothes; Sami needs some work boots to apply for site work. A small amount of sponsorship could really go along way.

Why the Half Marathon? A personal challenge!

I work full time in a busy but rewarding role; I am also mum to 2 children, so life is jam packed! I rediscovered running in Lockdown, the first time doing much exercise since having kids! I loved it! But my dodgy old back decided otherwise, so it took a few trips to a physio, lots of yoga and determination to keep going with it initially! As I progressed carefully with my training, my love for running, the space it brings me, meditation and sense of wellbeing I get increased, as did my determination to find small bits of time in my busy schedule to continue. I tend to run early morning on the weekend before the kids’ football and try to squeeze in a late evening run in the week. I run along the seafront or over the downs - we are so lucky in Brighton to have so many beautiful places to explore. I ran the Brighton half last year for the first time, it was tough, but I loved it! My training fell off again as life got busy, but I decided to get my trainers back on and this year I hope to match my time or perhaps even beat it slightly! If you are around on the 25th February – please do come down and cheer me on!

Once again thank you if you can sponsor my cause.

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