Bring A Smile To The Face Of A Homeless Young Person

Published on: 25 Nov, 2020
Updated on: 25 Nov, 2020

YMCA DownsLink Group has launched its 2020 Christmas campaign; Love in a Box, but this time it’s digital

With its Y centre in Bridge Street, Guildford, the YMCA DownsLink Group is the biggest provider of supported housing to vulnerable young people within Sussex and Surrey.

Click on poster to enlarge in a new window.

It says: “Every night we provide a safe home to 763 young people (aged 16 to 25) at risk of homelessness. Nearly 30% are care leavers, some as young as 16.

It aims to provide everyone living in its 24-hour supported accommodation a personal present.

Rather than filling shoeboxes with gifts, the charity is asking people to buy ‘virtual gifts’ and donate online, via its Love in a Box gift campaign, so that its key workers can buy personalised presents for the young people they look after.

It adds that Covid-19 has meant it is logistically difficult to receive and distribute physical boxes in a safe way. Secondly, its key workers get to know the young people who live with them really well, in some cases they’re more like a surrogate family.

Buying a virtual gift means they can buy something thoughtful and personal that really lets the young person know that they are cared for. It could be something to help them pursue a passion or hobby, or something they desperately need; a decent coat, warm jumper or new trainers.

Anyone can buy a virtual gift or donate via www.ymcadlg.org/loveinabox-xmas-2020.

It also says: “You can also buy a gift on behalf of someone else, so it’s a great option for a secret Santa gift, which are notoriously difficult to get right (and probably end up in landfill). It is also possible to specify which area within Sussex and Surrey you would like your money to go to so that you can rest assured that you are really helping a vulnerable young person living close to you.”