Words by Smiley Team
A woman has raised hundreds fundraising for a charity that supported her when she was homeless at 17 years old.
Alice Kendall moved into the YMCA Downslink Group’s 24-hour supported accommodation in Sussex when she was a teenager. Since then, she’s not only come back to work for the charity as a support and advice worker, she’s also been inspired to take on a Masters Degree in social work.
The now-mother has also taken part in the charity’s DownsLink Challenge, running 16 miles in under three hours in the blazing heat to raise money for the charity.
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“YMCA DownsLink Group has been a ‘safe space’ for me since I was 17 years old both as a service user, then as an employee,” said Alice.
“Due to difficulties with my family situation, I lived there for two years, which gave me a base and enabled me to study and work. I was also given invaluable support and advice which helped me grow.”
When she started working at the charity’s Youth Advice Centre (YAC) in 2017, Alice said felt proud to be able to "give back" to the organisation that supported her so much as a young person. “Working at YAC I gained a considerable number of skills, knowledge, and experiences but most importantly a family – the YAC family,” she said. “Since working at YAC I also started my own family and I now have a nearly 3-year-old daughter and gained 3 bonus children with my partner Richard.”
She left YMCA DownsLink Group to pursue a Social Work Masters. “I was inspired to do this because of two managers within the organisation who are role models to me,” she said.
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She’s fundraised for the charity before, running 10k in 2019, then the Brighton Half Marathon in 2020. “So, when I saw the YMCA Downslink Challenge advertised, I had to sign up,” she added.
“I know from a personal and professional perspective that work achieved across YMCA DownsLink Group changes young people’s lives and its staff work so hard to support young people in making positive changes and giving them opportunities to thrive and belong.
“I am so grateful for all the support I had as a young person and so proud to work for this organisation.”
If you’d like to support Alice and the charity’s work to transform the lives of young people facing homelessness donate here. You can offer longer-term support by becoming a room sponsor and giving a vulnerable young person the chance of a brighter future.
