YMCA DownsLink Group: Transforming Young Lives Press Release: 24th February 2022
No One Should Be Halfway Through their Life at the Age of 22
(Sign up for The 44 Challenge to make sure no other young person suffers a life half lived! You can make a positive change for local young people. https://bit.ly/JG44Challenge )
YMCA DownsLink Group believe passionately that no young person should live half a life. According to research by YMCA England and Wales and the National Office for Statistics* the average age of death for someone experiencing street homelessness is 44. The 44 Challenge has been set up by this leading youth charity in Sussex and Surrey to ensure no other young people become part of that shocking statistic. By taking on a unique challenge you can help make positive and long lasting change.
YMCA DownsLink Group step in to look after young people (16-24) when they are vulnerable and facing difficulties in their life. By supporting young people at this crucial stage in their lives they can prevent them from falling into a vicious circle of exclusion. They provide a range of services that aim to keep young people safe, whatever they are facing. They run Youth Advice Centres, mentoring programmes, family mediation, counselling, support for young people facing sexual and criminal exploitation, and, give those facing homelessness a safe home.
Speaking about this initiative, Nikki Mason, Director of Fundraising at YMCA DownsLink Group said:
“It has been a challenging year for us in terms of fundraising as so many events have had to be postponed or cancelled. But, at the same time the need for our services is increasing and we’re seeing more and more young people reaching out to us for support. Our services are under real pressure. We wanted to create a very simple fundraising challenge that allows people to choose to do something that will be good for them, whilst at the same time being a way for them to support others. We know that our community cares deeply about the issues of homelessness, as it is so visible in our region. By supporting us they will help prevent local young people from falling into the cycle of exclusion that stems from facing homelessness as a teenager.”
How to get involved?
Getting involved is easy - just follow these 5 simple steps:
- Get inspired and choose any challenge or task involving the numbers 44, 4.4 or 440.
- Choose whether to make a pledge and donate yourself, or, set up a fundraising page
- https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/The44Challenge
- Share your page or donate, suggested donations - £4.40, £44, £440
- Share the love share what you’re doing with friends and nominate others to set up their own challenge or sponsor you. Do send us photos and share your updates using our hashtag #The44Challenge & @ymcadlg
Don’t worry if you can’t think of a challenge. Helpfully the charity has produced a pack that contains 44 ideas to do for the challenge! Download the pack HERE.
For more information or to sign up visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/The44Challenge