Young People

Training and Employment

We offer a wide range of training programmes for young people and professionals across Sussex. 

For Young People:

Skillz 4 Life is an 6 week course for young people covering a diverse range of topics from practical advice on tenancy and budgeting to drugs, alcohol and relationships.

At Sussex Central YMCA we provide a wide range of services for people looking to find employment, gain new vocational skills or return to learning. To find out more please call or visit us at the Youth Advice Centre or the Safe + Sorted Advice Centre.

For Professionals:

The Dialogue Centre offers training courses and seminars on working theraputically with children and young people.

Equality and Diversity Training has been designed and is delivered by Project Managers and Human Resources Professionals at Sussex Central YMCA. This course raises awareness and understanding of Equality & Diversity, it is for everyone, both in the voluntary and private sectors, who require an understanding of the importance of Equality & Diversity in the workplace

For more information on how to received help and advice on where to go for training and what training is right for you please call 01273 889292 or email us at yacservices@sussexcentralymca.org.uk

The WISE Project is a service for 13-25 year olds who are experiencing sexual exploitation or are at risk of experiencing it. The project is also a point of call for advice and guidance for those working with young people who have suffered form sexual exploitation.

The WISE Project

Things to look out for...

•    someone gives you gifts for no reason

•    you hang around with older adults or you have an older boyfriend or girlfriend

•    you are offered alcohol or drugs by adults you don’t know well

•    you are given money or credit for your phone by someone you don’t know well

•    you get lifts on cars with people you don’t know well

•    you are pressured into having sex or doing other things like watching pornography

•    an adult you don’t know offers you somewhere to stay

•    sometimes you run away from home

A week before Christmas 26 young people and their youth workers from Brighton went to Gambia to visit a local school and hospital. The 2010 trip was run by Sussex Central YMCA in partnership with Brighton City College.

Brighton students with pupils from Kafuta Lower Basic School A group of students, workers and volunteers from Sussex Central YMCA delivered a range of sporting activities and donated some much needed equipment to the pupils at Kafuta Lower Basic School in Gambia. The school children were taught how to play football, cricket, frisbee and also got involved in multi skills activities. The students and staff members from Brighton City College together with pupils and teachers from Gambia built goals for the football field, shelves for the school library and hung doors in the school building.    

  Building shelves for the school libaryThe trip not only benefited the school in Gambia but also gave many of the young people from Brighton a life changing experience. Some of them have been excluded from school numerous times but after spending just seven days in Africa and witnessing people’s lifestyle they have changed beyond recognition. Yolandi Taylor who is a Sports Development Manager at Sussex Central YMCA and also the organiser of the Gambia trip said: “It is amazing to see the changes in these young people. They have come back more mature and with a changed attitude towards life and their education. After returning I have received emails from surprised parents and teachers who can not believe the changes they have seen."

Visisting Royal Victoria teaching hospitalThe group also visited two children’s wards at the Royal Victoria teaching hospital in the capital Banjul. It was a breathtaking experience for the young Britons seeing the overcrowded hospital with each bed being shared by two children. This was Kirsty’s first trip to Gambia and she found herself overwhelmed by how people appreciate everything they have and get on with their lives despite the hardships. “Going to the hospital was such an eye opener for me. To see all the sick children who don’t have much but are still smiling and happy.” Brighton visitors gave toys and clothes to the children in the hospital, which were much appreciated by the children and their parents. 

After coming back from Africa all of the Sussex Central YMCA Key Stage 4 students have decided to sponsor a child in Gambia for a year. Only £10 will pay for a school uniform, books and school meals. “The school was unbelievable. I loved it so much and I wish I could sponsor all of them but I am glad I can change one boy’s life,” said Jazz, Key Stage 4 student who went to Gambia for the first time.  

Seeing the obstacles and hardships school children face in Gambia the Brighton students can really appreciate the opportunities they have back here in the UK. When asked what was the biggest eye opener, Jazz said: “The biggest thing was walking around Gambia and seeing their life style. It's so harsh out there and the school is quite basic. Now I really want to go back to college and do well.” 

Safe + Sorted will be starring as one of the projects on the current series of Channel 4’s ‘The Secret Millionaire’. The episode, also featuring the YMCA's Environment Project and the Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project, will be aired on Sunday 14th November 2010 at 9pm. 

Safe + Sorted

Filming took place earlier this year in April at Safe + Sorted, a project run by Sussex Central YMCA in the East of Brighton. The team at Safe + Sorted had a hectic few weeks accommodating the film crew whilst keeping the project running as normally and smoothly as possible, which at times was a bit of a juggling act.

Lucy & Niki

Niki Eldridge, Manager of the project says “it was a worthwhile and humbling experience – in part because of the generosity of Bradley Reback (the now not-so-secret-millionaire), but also as a celebration of the work we do and of the amazing things that our young people achieve against all the odds”.

JordanJordan, one of the service users, received support from the workers at Safe + Sorted when she and her mum became homeless and also when she was being bullied at school “Safe + Sorted helped me when I was bullied and not in school for ages as I was signed off for anxiety and panic attacks, they even talked through poems with me before my English GCSE!  Safe+ Sorted helped to motivate me to get back into education.”

When asked about the programme Niki says “Ultimately the most important thing is for us is to be able to continue supporting the most vulnerable people in our society and Bradley’s donation has enabled us to keep doing this. There is a great deal of publicity about the pressures facing us all during this difficult economic period and this amazing experience provided us with a much needed relief as we wait to feel the true impact of the cuts. And despite the fact that cheques are virtually obsolete (except to Grandmas and Millionaires) – words can’t really express our gratitude.”

Promoting the mental and emotional wellbeing of 16 – 25 year olds in Brighton and Hove

Right HereRight Here Brighton and Hove promotes awareness of young people’s resilience and mental well being, and aims to improve local services. The project is a partnership between Sussex Central YMCA, Mind in Brighton and Hove, Brighton and Hove Children and Families Services, and the PCT. Right Here works with young people to promote emotional health and wellbeing through a mix of awareness raising campaigns and building individual resilience through peer support and activity programmes. Through consultation and project development young people from Brighton & Hove have worked with the partner organisations to identify how they want to promote mental health and well being.

How are we promoting young peoples mental and emotional wellbeing?

Right Here offers Resilience-building activities through subsidised access to sports, arts and other recreational activities. Current sessions include rock climbing, Anger management (Keep Calm and Carry On), Self Esteem building, Chill Out, Music Production and Hiking.

We are also working to increase young people’s access to support services across Brighton and Hove so that they can get the help they need with practical and emotional issues that impact on their wellbeing. Campaign  volunteers have developed a ‘Young Peoples Service Map’ for Brighton and Hove which  illustrates the services  available

Resilience building activities

for young people, where and how to find them, details of each service and links to their websites.  The map can be found at http://www.wheretogofor.co.uk/

Volunteers have produced the Wellbeing Leaflet, entitled “What Can I Do When It Comes To…” which suggests support services, websites and help lines, together with useful tips to help stay mentally and emotionally healthy. This has been made by young people for young people. It contains tips to experiment with to keep you health on track, things like eating properly, talking about your problems and being kind to yourself. The leaflets have been distributed across the city in GPs, schools, colleges and youth settings.

You can download A Young Person Guide to Looking After Yourself  at the bottom of this page.  

We are currently doing some research to influence clinical services for young people in Brighton & Hove. Volunteers have been trained in research skills to assess and evaluate GP services according to their services approach and responses to young people’s mental and emotional wellbeing.  After the pilot stage we aim to role this out across the city  with a view to making recommendations as needed and developing an award for any GPs with exceptional practice.

Badge Making with the Mayor Get Involved

If you are aged 16 – 25 you can
Sign up for free resilience building activities

Join our volunteer team and play a lead role in project planning and decision making (6 month minimum commitment):

Activities Volunteer: Planning and delivering resilience building activities.

Campaigns Volunteer: Working on project publicity and health promotion campaigns

Research and evaluation volunteer: Working with project researchers to measure the impact of Right Here Brighton and Hove on young people and the local community

Contact us
To find out more about volunteering with Right Here Brighton and Hove or to get involved in FREE activities
Phone us: 01273 222562
Text us: 07834 480725
Email us: info@right-here-brightonandhove.org.uk
Find us on Facebook – Right Here BrightonandHove
Follow us on Twitter – RightHereBH
Visit our website – www.right-here-brightonandhove.org.uk


www.sussexcentralymca.org.uk - Charity number 1079570
www.mindcharity.co.uk - Charity number 1071434

Right Here Brighton and Hove is a partnership between Sussex Central YMCA, Mind in Brighton and Hove, Brighton and Hove Children and Families Services, and the PCT

The project is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation as part of Right Here. Right Here is a joint initiative between Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation to support young people in improving their mental health.

Sussex Central YMCA counselling services offer a range of services for young people, families and schools. Our trained counsellors offer one to one, confidential advice in a safe setting where you can talk about any problems you might be troubled by. Click here for more information.

Gambia 2010

G2G Gambia Youth Project

Click Here to read about Sussex Central YMCA's Give 2 Gambia trip in December 2010.

The Gambia Project is for young people who have shown dedication and commitment to KS4 courses. The goal of the Gambia Project is to teach young people integral skills for maintaining high standards of behaviour, personal development and direction in their education. The goal of the Gambia project is for young people to learn how valuable the opportunities they have in life and learning by seeing the difficulties faced by children and young people living in less fortunate and culturally very different situations. By fundraising and working towards a long term goal which is both individually rewarding and motivating, the young people also learn the value of achieving long-term goals and begin to understand how their lives can change by contributing effectively to wider society and the wider world. 

Gambia Trip 2010

What the young people think about the Gambia trip: 

Case Study: Conner Penfold

Case Study: Kieran Clark

My Trip To Africa, By Jazmine Roberts

Case Study: Sport & Active Leisure

Case Study: Sport & Active Leisure, Special Educational Needs

Ross Wignal - Doctral Research in Anthropology

As part of his doctoral research in anthropology Ross is spending a year in the Gambia examining the role of YMCA sports and youth projects on the lives of young people in different countries. After completing a period of research in the UK, Ross is now spending a year in the Gambia setting up and running a Sports Leadership project for disadvantaged Gambian young people, whilst developing the Gambia YMCA's capacity for sports and youth work. The Gambia is an extremely poor country but sport is thriving and can provide a driving force for personal and social development. Sport can also be used to link young people into youth support networks, offering a range of personal and career development opportunities, as well as information and services they would otherwise not encounter. It is also hoped that by involving young Gambians from the outset, the Sports Leaders project will not only be successful but will feed a production line of young Gambian staff and volunteers, who can carry the project on after Ross leave in 2012. As an addition Ross will be joined by Sussex Central YMCA staff, young people and volunteers throughout the year, who will volunteer their time to help make the project succeed.

Gambia Trip 2011

Sussex Central YMCA is leading a team of volunteers including disadvantaged young people from the local area to Gambia in December 2011. Their mission is to help people in the Serekunda region of Gambia, West Africa.

Whilst in Gambia, a team of young people and volunteers from Sussex Central YMCA, will be delivering a range of sporting activities in a local primary school in the Serekunda region. We will also be providing teaching resources so that the schools can continue these programmes in the future.

G2G Prize Bingo

How can I help?

There are two direct ways to support the Give 2 Gambia Project, firstly by attending one of the many exiting fundraising events organised by the Give 2 Gambia fundraising team. The next fundraising event will be Prize Bingo on Friday 24th June 19:00-22:00 @ Marmion Road please Click Here to get all the details.

All money raised will go towards travel costs for the young people and taking sporting equipment and teaching resources out to the school in Gambia where they are desperately short of all kinds of resources.

Secondly you can make a direct donation either at Marmion Road or throught our Just Giving Page. Please donate whatever you can and help us to help the Gambia and allow our young people to experience a different culture that might change their own lives for the better.

How to Donate:

GO TO OUR JUSTGIVING PAGE

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Sussex Central YMCA gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, are added to your donation.

For more information contact Hannah Fuller on 01273 731724 or at hannah.fuller@sussexcentralymca.org.uk.

This service started in January 2009 and is funded by the Henry Smith Trust and Brighton and Hove Children and Young Peoples Trust. The counsellor is Michele Karban who has trained in Integrative Art Psychotherapy.

The proposed aims and objectives of this project were to set up and deliver an accessible counselling service specifically for young people aged 13 -21 who were either looked after by the local authority or in kinship care. This service also extends to those young people who had previously been in care and who had either returned to their family of birth or who were now living independently.

Brighton and Hove have an unusually high percentage of children and young people in care. As of 31st March 2009 there were 208 young people aged between 13 and 18 who were looked after by the local authority (source: Performance Team at the CYPT).

Read how Young People in Brighton & Hove are sharing their vital experiences of mental health services

World Mental Health Day started in 1992. It was started as an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health. The day is officially commemorated every year on October 10th.

The Mental Health Foundation celebrates World Mental Health Day each year, using it as an opportunity to communicate with the general public about mental health issues.

In Brighton & Hove Young people are already communicating their experiences of mental health services in order to educate mental health professionals. Experience in Mind is a unique and innovative project delivered by Sussex Central YMCA in partnership with Mind in Brighton and Hove.

Parent and ChildYou don't need to feel alone if you think, or know, that you are pregnant. Come to one of our information and advice drop-ins at the Youth Advice Centre in Hove or our Safe + Sorted Advice Centre in East brighton and speak to a worker.

Whether you decide to continue with the pregnancy or not we can offer you impartial advice and support. We can link you in to specialized counselling or support where you can receive regular help. If you're still at school there are specialist midwives we can put you in contact with to support you and your education.