YMCA Guildford Unveils Plans For Redevelopment Of Supported Housing Project

Published on: 6 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 6 Oct, 2016

YMCA Guildford has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of Midwey House, its supported housing accommodation in Wharf Road.

Pictured at the launch event from left, the Mayor of Guildford Gordon Jackson, and the Mayoress Sue Jackson; YMCA DownsLink Group chairman John Slater; its director of communities and property services, Anne Cairns; its Guildford services manager, Steve Darken, and its chief executive officer, Chas Walker.

The charity successfully secured £1.25 million funding towards the project from the Homes and Community Agency and has committed to providing the rest of the money (£1.3 million) from its own sources. The new design will accommodate 34 local young people, a significant increase on the current 13 units.

Work has already begun to create the extra spaces and the building should see the first young residents move in around May next year.

At an event to lauch the project, YMCA DownsLink Group’s chief executive officer Chas Walker told the assembled audience of church leaders, local stakeholders, individual and corporate supporters and volunteers that the new development will be a home for those who are “work ready” but still need a helping hand.

He said: “This opportunity to improve and expand our offer to local young people is exciting for us, but in order to do so we will need the support of local stakeholders and businesses over the coming months.”

The new housing project will have 24-hour staff support and encourage the residents to engage with training and education with a view to finding permanent employment. As part of this process the young people will also have the opportunity to meet with local volunteer mentors through the YMCA Positive Placements project.

Midwey House opened as a purpose-built hostel in 1969 and for over 45 years has provided local young people with safe accommodation. The building has shown its age for some time, and this redevelopment is timely.

When it reopens it will be known as YMCA Guildford Foyer. A foyer is an integrated learning and accommodation centre and the young people entering it are expected to actively engage in their own development and make a positive contribution to their local community. The new housing project will complement the work YMCA Guildford currently does at the Guildford Y Centre on Bridge Street.

While government and YMCA funding will cover the cost of the building work, the YMCA is looking for local sponsorship to help make a difference inside the building.

Local businesses and individuals are most welcome to sponsor spaces such as the 34 self-contained rooms, the communal kitchen or the outdoor space. Smaller donations could contribute towards creating welcome packs for the young people as they move in. Visit www.ymcadlg.org/sponsor-midwey to see how you could be a part of this exciting project or call Chris McSween on 01483 532555.

The YMCA DownsLink Group is a registered charity working across Sussex and Surrey providing a range of services to children, young people and families with a particular focus on the needs of young people who find themselves on the fringes of society and need support.

The charity’s work covers a wide range of areas including accommodation, general advice, sexual exploitation, mental health, housing advice, young offenders, youth clubs, childcare, counselling, mentoring, alternative education and apprenticeships. Each year the charity supports over 10,000 people operating from centres in Brighton and Hove, Guildford, Horsham, Crawley, Lewes and Worthing. To find out more, visit www.ymcadlg.org