Housing

West Kent YMCA, as the Managing Agent of YMCA England’s Housing scheme, welcomes applications for supported housing from people from all backgrounds.

Local Profile

West Kent YMCA provides supported housing for 24 single young homeless men & women aged 16-30. Due to demand most residents are 16-21.

Every person who applies is unique so we tailor support accordingly i.e. basic skills, job skills, mental health, substance misuse, domestic violence, learning difficulties, probation and move-on support.

We accept from out of area by referrals from any agencies or self-referral.
For referrals info & form visit www.westkentymca.org.uk/page_referer.asp

Where we are

Ryder House - Housing Team
1-23 Belgrave Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN1 2BP

www.westkentymca.org.uk/page_contact.asp

Contact Number

01892 518505 [voicemail when busy]
FAX for housing Team 01892 676160

Website

www.westkentymca.org.uk

Additional Opportunities Available at West Kent YMCA

• Life Skills Workshops – cooking, budget, cleaning to CV writing
• Job Club – weekly with specialist advice, connexions & internet access
• LSC partnership – wide range of courses for young people and adults
• The Horizon Project – supported vocational training – to achieve City & Guilds Level 1 in construction in our 3 friendly centres - covering
  - Painting and Decorating, Bricklaying
  - Carpentry and Joinery
  - Plumbing & Electrician
• 3 furniture warehouses that:
  - keep 300 tonnes a year from landfill
  - offer low cost furniture, white goods, PCs, TVs etc to residents & public
  - offer work experience in retail, driving, collection/delivery, repairs
• Youth Work £30,000 pa raised by Residents for inclusion projects they plan & run
• Inner Journey – life changing expedition to South Africa
• Outward bound in North Wales

Homelessness Services Available at West Kent YMCA

• We offer a drop – in housing advice centre and phone advice 24/7.
• Working in partnership with West Kent Liaison Housing Group for a Night Shelter
• Working with local churches re the possibility of supported lodgings
• Our partners The Bridge Trust run a housing advice office
• Each local council provides homelessness advice and can refer to us
• We are lobbying for more supported youth housing in West Kent and propose to extend our current building and develop other projects
• We work in partnership with other YMCAs in Kent and GOSE region and with local RSLs
• We sit on the Kent Children’s Trust Board – and have successfully raised the profile of children, young people and families needing safe, secure, supported quality housing as an essential prerequisite foundation for any other investment, intervention or support.

Summary of Accommodation Details