In June 2025, YMCA Leicestershire were proud to be awarded Youth Foyer Accreditation at ‘Adventurer’ level.
Youth Foyer Accreditation is awarded by the Foyer Federation to youth supported housing services who, by meeting the Youth Foyer Quality Standards, have proven that they deliver a truly high quality, transformational service with young people who can’t live at home.
Youth Foyers are more than a place to stay: they are thriving communities, with people – not circumstance – at the heart. They work with young people to build on their strengths, share power and create holistic development opportunities.
The Youth Foyer Quality Standards have been developed by the Foyer Federation over 30+ years of working with youth supported housing services across the UK and Ireland to describe the fundamental principles and key characteristics of a Youth Foyer.
As ‘Adventurers’, YMCA Leicestershire has demonstrated a strong commitment to transformational support and positive outcomes for young people, with evidence of innovation, youth voice and an ambitious culture of continuous improvement.
For more information on Youth Foyer Accreditation, visit the Foyer Federation website: HERE
At YMCA Leicestershire, we believe young people are more than the challenges they face. That’s why we use an approach called Advantaged Thinking, developed by the Foyer Federation — and it runs through everything we do.
Instead of focusing on what someone lacks, Advantaged Thinking starts with what they bring. Skills. Strengths. Ambition. Creativity. Dreams that go beyond just getting by. Yes, a young person might be facing homelessness — but that’s never the whole story.
This approach challenges a deficit mindset that still lingers in parts of our sector. It flips the script and asks us to see the full person in front of us — not just their circumstances.
And it’s not just for the young people we support. We apply Advantaged Thinking to our whole organisation. Because if our team doesn’t feel seen, supported and empowered, how can we expect them to offer that to others?
It’s a culture we’re proud of — one where everyone, no matter their role, gets to belong, contribute, and thrive.
We use positive language and imagery to define people, focusing on potential.
We develop strengths and potential, grow skills and capabilities, leading to sustainable outcomes.
We seek to understand people not just in terms of their needs, but through their abilities.
We recognise the value of everyone we work with and sustain high expectations and aspirations.
We involve people as active agents in their own lives and services, including by collaborating on solutions, ensuring authenticity.
We challenge ourselves and others to work in a positive, asset-based way.
Across all resources, we invest in people to enable them to progress towards more sustainable, thriving livelihoods.
