YMCA to Open New homes for Vulnerable Young People

The Bishop of Willesden and Mayor of Hillingdon will together open a set of brand new YMCA homes for vulnerable young people in Uxbridge next week.

West London YMCA will bring hope to local young people ready for independent living when it opens the supported new homes in Uxbridge next Tuesday.

The Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr David Routledge MBE will attend the opening accompanied by the Mayoress, Mrs Janet Routledge, while Fr Cliff Bowman, Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, and Mark Jolly, West London YMCA Housing Project Manager, will cut a ribbon to open the project. The Bishop of Willesden, Rev Pete Broadbent, will bless the project.

The opening of the extension to West London YMCA's housing project at St Andrew's, "Phase II", in Uxbridge town centre provides 10 studio flats for vulnerable young people ready to live by themselves, but with support on offer. Each resident will have a housing support officer, and a support plan to help them make a success of living in their own flat.

Two rooms are designed to support residents with sensory impairment while all residents can enjoy use of the residents' lounge, IT suite, laundry room, interview room, and a larger office with kitchen, all adjacent to the new secure reception area.

One resident, Kawa Youssef, shared his view of living in the new project: "Since I came to the YMCA I recognised a difference in my life, in positive way. It is fantastic - the staff are lovely, friendly and try their best to make residents feel happy. I like to call them angels because they give sympathy and love to us just for the sake of our pleasure.

"They are not just doing their jobs and duty. They treat us as parents treat their own children; honestly and truthfully. However I write I can't find the right word to thank them."

Rona Nicholson, London Field Director of the Housing Corporation, praised the contribution of organisations like the YMCA to the community. She said, "Tackling homelessness is a priority for the Housing Corporation and I am delighted that we have been able to invest in this development of 10 much needed new homes for young people in Uxbridge.

"London housing associations, such as West London YMCA, play a key role in preventing and tackling homelessness, helping to build sustainable communities and neighbourhoods by providing good quality new homes and services across the capital".

Cllr Philip Corthorne, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, said, "We are very pleased with phase II of the St Andrews development - it offers services that are crucial for supporting young people in the community. We are always looking for ways to work with our partners to offer modern, well managed services that are needed in our community and have been very pleased to support the YMCA's proposal with the Housing Corporation."

The original housing project, Phase 1, was opened in 2003 on the site of a derelict vicarage, and is one of the few direct access hostels in West London, providing 13 self-catering rooms for young homeless people. St. Andrew's, Uxbridge, chose to go into partnership with West London YMCA because of the charity's wealth of experience in supported housing.

Established in 1870, the YMCA in West London has gone from strength to strength with over 400 young people a night now housed in nine West London YMCA projects across West London. Nationwide, the YMCA is the largest provider of safe, secure and affordable supported housing for young people.