YMCA Homelessness Society

Based at the University of Exeter, the YMCA Homelessness Society seeks to support the work of YMCA Exeter through raising awareness, fundraising and supporting residents in practical ways. In the past, they have fundraised through the Great West Run (Exeter half marathon), Sleep Easy (a sponsored sleep-out), Santa Powerfan (a freefall on Exeter Quay) and various cake sales in forum. They also seek to help our residents in practical ways, for the last two years making gift boxes for the residents of YMCA Exeter at Christmas time.

The scope of YMCA Society is to also inform students of volunteering opportunities within YMCA Exeter and other homelessness charities in Exeter, enabling students to make a difference and become involved in Exeter’s wider society. This could be from serving food at a soup kitchen to helping coordinate emergency housing for young people with nowhere to go. This year, YMCA Society are also looking to do more regular socials to provide a community of students who are all passionate about this issue and want to run training sessions, enabling students to gain an increased understanding of the issue and how to help.

YMCA Society at Sleep Easy Exeter, March 2020

Meet the committee 2020/21

Josh is a third year physics student. He’s always felt strongly about homelessness and been interested in the causes and effects.

Last year, Josh volunteered for Just Love homeless breakfasts on Saturday mornings, and took part in Sleep Easy 2019, which inspired him to join YMCA committee.

He’s really keen at what can be done and what YMCA society can achieve this year! Most recently, Josh ran the Great West Run half marathon and raised over £200 for YMCA Exeter.

Ben got involved with YMCA during first year when he was affected by the plight of the homeless in his new city.

Since joining YSoc, Ben spent his second year playing 5-a-side every Tuesday with residents of the YMCA sports group. In addition, Ben participated in the annual Sleep Easy and worked with Just Love Exeter to provide shoeboxes full of luxury presents for all 51 residents at the Y.

Ben has travelled throughout Latin America and regularly takes part in a Salvation Army Camp in Colorado, USA.

Jess is our Publicity Sec and studies Liberal Arts with a major in History of Art. She is really excited to be part of the 2020/21 committee and wants to highlight the excellent work that is being done for rough sleepers across Exeter and beyond.

Jess has always been super creative and wants to use her abilities to help make a positive difference in Exeter. Since this year is also her final year, she wants to be a real force for good by taking part in the YMCA Homeslessness Society.

Emily is going into her fourth year of Civil Engineering MEng and the new society Treasurer.

The issue of homelessness has always been close to Emily’s heart and has been involved in a homeless food shelter before in London. Being part of the YMCA homelessness society was drawn to my Emily’s attention through a fellow course mate who was also part of the committee and she knew immediately this was a committee she had to be part of to help people in need.

Contact

Joining YMCA society will give you an opportunity to find out more about homelessness, be part of tackling the issues surrounding homelessness and make great friends!

We’d love for you to get involved, please check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more details!