YMCA DLG Chaplaincy Services

Chaplaincy services “..let us love one another, for love comes from God”

(1 John 4:7)

“

It makes the hostel feel more like home... talking to the chaplains each week has made me feel less lonely...it’s been good to know that someone notices how you are…I know they will be there each week – that really helps, particularly if I have had a bad week. Having someone who is happy to see me makes me feel better.

YMCA resident

YMCA CHAPLAINCY

”

Providing a non-judgemental space to discuss, explore, listen and support

yMCa DoWnslinK Group Each year we support around 15,000 young people, children and families across Sussex and Surrey through a wide range of services. We focus particularly on vulnerable and marginalised young people, and we house around 500 young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or unable to live at home, including Ben (see overleaf).

“I had a bad experience with religion growing up. I grew up thinking God was ashamed of you and you need to work harder, rather than thinking there was a God who loves me. I’m not sure whether I believe in God or not but it (the chaplaincy) has shown me that there is a side of Christianity which is more accepting.”

YMCA Resident

ChaplainCy We are an inclusive organisation with a strong Christian foundation.

Our staff and young people are from all faiths and none. Our Chaplaincy service provides support to residents and staff mainly through a large and growing team of volunteer chaplains.

Our chaplains are available to listen, chat, get alongside people and to meet them at their point of need. If someone wants to explore faith or spiritual issues, or to pray, there is also the opportunity to do this. Chaplains are here for everyone, whatever their spiritual beliefs or background.

We need your help to fund and expand chaplaincy services further!

“Being a Chaplain, for me, is about the church journeyi their lives. Supporting them. I have learnt so much fro with others leads to a better understanding of each ot

“..whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40)

our ChaplainCies

We have , or are planning, chaplaincy teams at

“I wish chaplaincy

YMCA housing projects in Horsham, was twice a week – on Brighton, Worthing, Guildford and Crawley. The chaplains run informal weekly Mondays and Fridays.

That would make for a chaplaincy evenings, on a regular night each week, usually with food/snacks and simple good start and end to activities. Each chaplaincy is slightly different. the week.”

At a couple of the smaller Brighton housing projects (with 15 - 18 residents) the chaplains YMCA resident cook a meal each week with the young people which provides a good opportunity for chatting and listening while preparing the food and then eating together.

At our Horsham project (50 young people) the chaplains are known as “the doughnut people” because they often arrive bearing a tray of doughnuts! They chat and play pool and are a welcome weekly presence to both staff and young people. In Worthing snacks and chatting go alongside simple fun activities. Sometimes young people use the sessions to explore faith but often conversations revolve around other things...the chaplains are led by the young people and what is important to them.

In addition to the weekly chaplaincy evenings the chaplains also provide particular support at times of crisis and loss and are highly valued through the organisation.

Most of our chaplains are volunteers.

In our chaplains we look for people who are kind, non-judgemental, good listeners with a strong faith and a love of young people. Prayerfulness and a sense of humour are important too :) Volunteer chaplains help on a rota basis usually once every 2-3 weeks for an evening. Training is given, and support. Chaplains enjoy what they do!

ing with the residents, through the ups and downs of om being a chaplain, about how building relationships ther. We’re building a stronger community together.”

Judi Cox, Volunteer Chaplain Coordinator Horsham

“If I hadn’t had a room at the YMCA then I don’t know where I would be today, probably laying dead in a gutter.”

Ben’s* life was chaotic from an early age. But living at the YMCA brought stability and the opportunity to turn his life around.

“My childhood was unsettled by my parents’ stormy relationship resulting in their divorce.

They had violent fights so I ran away when I was 14. I stayed at random people’s houses and dealt drugs to support myself. I ended up taking them myself. I became addicted to heroin and I was taking other drugs to block out reality.

Following a nervous breakdown I was sectioned for a while, but when I came out of hospital I had nowhere to live. I started sofa surfing and sleeping rough until

Can you help?

We need: Churches to support us financially, and through prayer – can we be one of your charities?

Individual regular givers and one-off donations New volunteer chaplains

thankfully I was able to move into the local YMCA. I got valuable support from my own key worker and counselling from the YMCA counselling service.

I lived at the YMCA for about two years, before moving on to live more independently at another YMCA property. I lived there for 18 months and was still able to access the YMCA’s support. Then I was offered a house by the local council. I’m now finished with drugs and working. *Name and photo have been changed to protect the identity of the young person

£10 buys snacks for a week at one project £20 funds one chaplaincy meal (for 10) £1000 funds chaplaincy meals for a year at one project £30,000 would enable us to employ another paid chaplain to expand services significantly

Donate online at www.ymcadlg.org/give-chaplaincy Send cheque made payable to ‘YMCA DownsLink Group’ to Lucy McGrath, YMCA DLG, Reed House, 47 Church Road, Hove BN3 2BE For more information contact Lucy McGrath Lead Chaplain E chaplaincy@ymcadlg.org

T 01273 222563

W www.ymcadlg.org/chaplaincy