YMCA

Empowering Youth through Project Flourish at YMCA Leicestershire

Posted on 24 April 202516 April 2025 by Marc Ford

Juliet Martin, is our Resident Community and Engagement Manager at YMCA Leicestershire, and recently I had the chance to interview her on her insights on the transformative Project Flourish initiative. The collaboration between EveryYouth and Hays Recruitment has created an impactful program designed to support young people, especially those in supported accommodation, in accessing employment opportunities.

Holistic Support System

Project Flourish is unique in offering wraparound support for young people. Each of our young people are connected with their own transition coach and benefits from regular stakeholder meetings with the project. This ‘team-based’ approach ensures that everyone involved is aligned in their goals to achieve the best outcomes for the young individual.

Flexible Learning Opportunities

One of the standout features of the program is its learning management system, which offers over 140 short courses. These courses help young people develop essential life and professional skills at their own pace. Topics include budgeting, financial literacy, and job-readiness. Remember, some of our young people have had to miss mainstream schooling, and in many cases have not had an adult figure in their lives to help them with life skills that perhaps we take for granted.

Removing Practical Barriers

The initiative goes beyond training by addressing real-world challenges that might prevent our young people from successfully transitioning into employment. Often there’s a never-ending circle where residents would get an interview but have nothing to wear for the interview; because you need money for that; but you’re not working yet, so where does the money come from? Then if you get the job, in some cases you need to get some basic workwear, and/or a mode of transport to get there and back, but you need to have earned some wages so that you can afford to get them. Frustrating isn’t it?

From purchasing suitable clothes and train tickets to providing lunchboxes and backpacks, the program helps ensure that young people feel confident and prepared.

Real-Life Success Stories

Juliet recounts the story of a young man who, with the help of Project Flourish, started his first job. With the right gear and support, he not only began work successfully but also passed his probation and continues to thrive in his role. She says, “The young people we work with, would rarely get these levels of opportunities and support, and so I don’t know any other project that offers young people in supported accommodation this quality of opportunity.

Collaborative Framework

There also regular ‘Stakeholder meetings’ that serve as a forum for professionals to coordinate efforts and resolve any issues promptly. This level of consistent and continuous communication ensures quality support across the workplace, educational environment, and living space.

Looking Forward

Always the one to push boundaries, Juliet emphasises the importance of expanding this initiative. With many young people eager to participate in similar opportunities, she’s calling on more companies to partner with Project Flourish and invest in the future of youth employment.

Project Flourish exemplifies how targeted, compassionate, and comprehensive support can open doors for vulnerable youth, equipping them with the tools and confidence needed to succeed in today’s job market.

Juliet’s FULL Interview is available here: https://youtu.be/xmOYze6cRJw?si=OpK5Wq-1RWvfT8mh

About Project Flourish : CLICK HERE

The number of young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness is continually rising. Project Flourish was created in collaboration with charity partners, to help disadvantaged young people find and sustain meaningful employment.

Wasteland to Wonder: How Gardening is Transforming Young Lives

Posted on 18 April 202515 April 2025 by Marc Ford

If you ever doubted the power of a garden, Roots 2 Resilience might just change your mind.

On Day 61 of our journey, we have already witnessed something remarkable: not just the transformation of land, but of some of our young people. What began as a barren, unloved plot is now becoming a vibrant symbol of what happens when community, creativity, and a little compost come together.

Enter: Nick Bailey (and Some Very Excited Young Designers)

You may know Nick Bailey from BBC’s Gardener’s World – a man who can make even weeding look glamorous. But to the young people involved in this project, he’s more than a TV personality. He’ll be a mentor, a motivator, and a master of bringing big ideas down to earth (sometimes quite literally, with a trowel in hand).

Nick’s involvement in Roots 2 Resilience has been a game-changer. By treating our young participants not just as helpers but as designers in their own right, he’s done something powerful: made horticulture aspirational. You could see the pride, the spark, the sense of “I can do this” – and you can’t teach that from a textbook.

Learning with Legs (Literally)

One of the most joyful moments of the day is when our young team learned to measure a metre using their own legs. No rulers. No calculators. Just human limbs and laughter.

It’s a perfect metaphor for what this project is really about: learning by doing. It’s one thing to be told how to design a garden. It’s another to walk the dimensions, feel the space, and leave your literal footprint on it. That’s education that sticks – and grows.

A Garden with Purpose

But this isn’t just about soil and seeds. It’s about transforming a space that was once overlooked into something full of life and beauty. Planning meetings turned into strategy sessions, where young voices shaped the layout, picked plant species, and dreamed big.

Because when young people see that their ideas matter, they start to believe they matter.

It Takes a Village (and Some Very Kind Donors)

None of this would be possible without the community. Donations have poured in – from materials to time to encouragement. And each contribution becomes a teaching moment in itself. Our young people are learning not only about plants, but about people. About what it means to rally together for something greater than yourself.

And through sustainable gardening practices, they’re also learning to care for the planet they’ll inherit.

So, What’s Really Growing Here?

Yes, there will be flowers. Yes, there will be colour and biodiversity and a garden worth showing off.

But more than that, we’re growing confidence. Connection. Skills. Purpose. We’re helping young people see themselves as stewards of their communities, capable of shaping their environment – and their future.

Roots 2 Resilience isn’t just about planting things in the ground. It’s about planting hope in some young hearts. And from what I’ve seen, it’s going to bloom beautifully.

Empathy Through Experience – The Impact of Our Sleep Easy 2025

Posted on 15 April 202515 April 2025 by Marc Ford

Homelessness is a deeply entrenched societal issue, often overlooked by those fortunate enough to have stable housing. YMCA Leicestershire’s Sleep Easy 2025 event at King Power Stadium offered more than a fundraising challenge – it provided a powerful experiential learning opportunity for everyone involved. By choosing to sleep out for just one night, 84 dedicated individuals stepped briefly into the shoes of those facing homelessness, connecting community, compassion, and cause in a truly unforgettable way.

The Concept of Sleep Easy

The “Sleep Easy” is an annual initiative designed to raise both funds and awareness for youth homelessness in England & Wales. Participants give up the comfort of their homes and beds for a single night to sleep outside – exposed to the elements and facing the discomfort that thousands of rough sleepers across our county endure nightly.

This year’s event, held on March 19, 2025, took place pitch-side at Leicester’s iconic King Power Stadium, adding a surreal edge to an already emotional evening. (Especially to the lone Nottingham Forest fan that came dressed in his team’s shirt, scarf and wooly hat!)

A Night to Remember

Attendees arrived with sleeping bags and collected their cardboard boxes, ready to make their temporary shelters. They were welcomed warmly by Chair Hayley Robertson, CEO Paul Brown, and Latoya Flannagan, whose powerful words grounded the night with real raw honesty and heartfelt reflection.

Before settling in, participants took a mini stadium tour, soaking up the atmosphere while preparing for the night ahead. Though dry, the chill crept in as darkness fell, dropping below freezing before midnight – but the spirit of solidarity never waned. As dawn broke, sleepers were treated to a hot breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Leicester, served with a side of well-earned comfort.

Reflections

In interviews the next morning, many reflected on the experience as “humbling,” “eye-opening,” and “emotional.” Common themes included:

Discomfort and Vulnerability: The physical strain of sleeping on concrete with limited warmth reminded many of how challenging even one night outside can be.
Emotional Realisation: Several participants admitted they hadn’t grasped the full emotional toll of homelessness until feeling invisible, cold, and isolated—even for just one night.
Community Bonding: Despite the chill, laughter echoed across the stadium. Strangers became teammates, united in their discomfort and their desire to make a difference.

As one participant summed it up in the morning:

“It’s not about pretending we know what it’s really like—it’s about understanding that we don’t, and doing something about it.”

£16,000 Raised – And Counting!

Thanks to the passion and generosity of everyone involved, over £16,000 has already been raised—with donations still coming in. These vital funds will help YMCA Leicestershire continue its mission to support young people aged 16–25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Broader Impact

While the funds raised are crucial, the event’s educational value is equally impactful. Sleep Easy creates advocates. We’ve now done three events and two teams and one individual have supported them all, all challenging themselves for Sleep Easy ’26. It turns curiosity into compassion and compassion into action. Participants return to their homes with more than just tired eyes – they carry stories, perspective, and a drive to support change.

Thank You to Our Champions

This year’s Sleep Easy wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible cast of contributors:

🙏 Event Partners:
Leicester City Football Club, Leicester City in the Community, Holiday Inn Express Leicester, Boxes and Packaging, Matt Glover Photography

🎶 Live Music:
Curtis Matthew, Charmaine Brocklebank, Steve Smith

💼 Team Participants:
PA Housing, Unite Students, Central England Co-op, Morro Partnerships, Leicestershire Law Society, Foxes Trust, Mo Walker / WBR Group, and the Make Change Team

At The End of the Day

By offering a glimpse into the realities of homelessness, YMCA Leicestershire’s Sleep Easy event bridges the gap between empathy and action. In just one night, it mobilised generosity, inspired education, and reminded everyone that no young person should face homelessness alone.

You can watch the short ‘Morning After The Night Before…’ video here: https://youtu.be/OU6D2LjpzP4

To donate or get involved in future events, visit: www.ymcaleics.org.uk