Press Releases

On Friday 28th January 21 sleepers braved the cold and slept rough to raise money for Sussex Central YMCA. The Sleep Easy event in Horsham took place in the courtyard of the beautiful St Johns Evangelist RC Church. Together the sleepers raised over £2000 with more money still coming in.  

Sleep Easy is a national event run by YMCA England all over the country. The aim of Sleep Easy is to raise money and awareness of youth homelessness. The money raised in Horsham will go towards Sussex Central YMCA’s work with children, young people and families.

A Sleep Easy participant Felicity Harrington said: “I find it hard to comprehend that my hamsters sleep in better conditions than homeless people. I don’t think people really understand what it means to be homeless. As a Christian I often think about putting my faith in to action. I think participating in Sleep Easy is a practical way to do something worth while and raise money for those who really need it.”

Sleepers started arriving at 7pm with their duvets, sleeping bags and hot water bottles and the night was kicked off with a shelter building competition. Cardboard boxes for the shelters were provided by GB Liners Removal Company in Brighton.

Sussex Central YMCA Chief Executive David Standing officially opened the event by welcoming everybody and announced the winners of the shelter building competition the Cardboard Cut Outs, who received a chocolaty prize from Infinity Foods in Brighton.

Though it was a cold night the atmosphere at the event was great and participants stayed warm by playing games and chatting around the fire.

And finally, a big thank you goes to all the kind sponsors who provided the sleepers with food and drink: Wabi, Dominos Pizzas, Le Brunch, Starbucks, Waitrose, Greggs and Panino.

Andy Ide, Project Team Leader at Sussex Central YMCA’s Y Centre in Horsham comments on

 his experience: “Though I couldn’t sleep all night I would definitely do it again next year because it is all for a good cause. I was quite surprised to hear some people around me snoring. It seemed like they were having the best nights sleep ever.”

Experience In Mind are pleased to announce the launch of their long awaited website: www.experienceinmind.co.uk

Experience In Mind is an innovative volunteering project led by young people committed to raising awareness about the mental health of young people.  The project designs and delivers training for professionals in young people's services and in schools, for parents and for other young people using their own experiences of mental health.

Through the website you can access a wealth of information and links about the project and young people's mental health.  There is also information on volunteering with Experience In Mind, our training and resources, as well as a range of multimedia including films, photography and audios to reflect the reality of young people's experiences and mental health issues from their own perspective.

The Experience In Mind training pack can also be ordered via the website.  This has been developed by members of the project with the aim of involving young people in the delivery of mental health training to professionals and services who work with young people.

Sir Al Aynsley Green, Children's Commissioner for England, supporter of the project said "I wish to convey my whole hearted support of organisations such as yours, who work so hard to reach out to the many young people in need of specialist and sensitive care, particularly during the most vulnerable times in their lives".

For further information see our website or email: info@experienceinmind.co.uk

Sussex Central YMCA New Annual Review Calendar To celebrate a successful 2008-09, Sussex Central YMCA has produced an Annual Review in the form of a calendar and is giving one hundred away. Click here to claim your free calendar (subject to availability).

Each month has a positive theme highlighting Sussex Central YMCA’s vision that all young people have a place where they belong, a voice that is listened to and opportunities throughout life’s journey to realise their potential.

The stunning photographs, which reflect the themes of each month, were taken in locations around Brighton & Hove and Sussex and the models are Sussex Central YMCA staff and users, mainly children and young people, of Sussex Central YMCA services.

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.