Tag: mental health

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.

If you’d told me a few years ago that a trip to a botanical garden could be life-changing, I probably would’ve nodded politely while internally rolling my eyes. But then I read an article about a former homeless man who found refuge and purpose at Kew Gardens after battling homelessness and addiction – and suddenly, it didn’t seem so far-fetched.

The piece, published in The Guardian, tells the story of someone who, after years of instability, discovered that tending to plants and immersing himself in nature gave him a sense of structure, stability, and self-worth. The rhythm of the seasons, the quiet labour of gardening, the simple act of nurturing something and watching it grow – all of it became a catalyst for change.

And honestly? That struck a chord. Because at YMCA Leicestershire, we see the same thing happening through our Roots to Resilience project.

Nature as a Lifeline

At its core, Roots to Resilience is a simple idea: give young people experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges the chance to connect with nature, develop skills, and rebuild confidence. We know that when life feels like an endless series of closed doors, something as simple as growing a tomato plant or digging a garden bed can be an unexpected source of empowerment.

Sounds too easy, right? But the evidence is overwhelming. Studies show that spending time in green spaces can lower stress levels, improve mental health, and even reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. And when you’re a young person who’s been told “no” more times than you can count – no stable home, no job, no support network – being able to plant something and see it flourish is a quiet, but powerful, reminder that change is possible.

More Than Just a Patch of Dirt

For us, Roots to Resilience is about more than just planting a few flowers and calling it a day. It’s about giving young people the space to grow – literally and figuratively. It’s about offering structure, community, and a reason to get up in the morning. It’s about showing that life can move forward, even when everything feels stuck.

One of our young people recently put it better than I ever could:

“I never thought I’d care about plants. But when I saw something I planted actually growing, it felt like I was growing too.”

Now, I’m not saying that a garden alone can solve the youth homelessness crisis (if only it were that simple). But what I am saying is that we need more spaces where young people can heal, rebuild, and find purpose. Places where they can breathe – in every sense of the word.

So, whether it’s Kew Gardens, a YMCA project, or just a local community garden, let’s stop underestimating the power of nature to transform lives. Because sometimes, the smallest seed can grow into something pretty incredible.

If you want to support Roots to Resilience, get in touch. Because every young person deserves the chance to grow. 🌱

To find out more about our work: www.ymcaleics.org.uk

By Marc Ford MBA, Marketing & Digital Content Creator

Working at YMCA Leicestershire, I see first-hand the difference proper support can make in a young person’s life. But I also see what happens when that support isn’t there – when services buckle under pressure, and young people are left with nowhere to turn. This week, two major discussions have taken centre stage: the crisis in support services and the rise of innovative collaborations trying to patch the gaps. Let’s talk about both.

Support Services: The System is Failing Young People

A young person facing homelessness needs more than just a roof over their head -they need stability, guidance, and a real chance to rebuild. Unfortunately, across the UK, services meant to provide this are at breaking point.

Reports have surfaced that councils are failing to take homeless young people into care, instead placing them in unsuitable temporary accommodation. It’s a problem we see too often: a young person turns up at their local authority, seeking help, only to be handed the keys to a B&B room – isolated, unsupported, and completely unequipped for independent living. Worse are the councils that bound up in their own over prescriptive, sometimes in-decipherable bureaucracy, can’t place them full stop.

The Guardian recently highlighted this crisis, reporting that councils are “routinely ignoring their legal duty to house vulnerable young people,” leaving them at risk of exploitation, mental health struggles, and prolonged homelessness. The reality? Some of these young people end up back on the streets. Others drift between unstable housing situations, never getting the consistent support they need to break the cycle.

Even emergency shelters are struggling. In some areas, youth shelters are turning people away because they simply don’t have enough space. A recent report described the situation as “a source of national shame,” with rising numbers of rough sleepers and an overwhelmed system unable to cope.

Here at YMCA Leicestershire, we do everything we can to help young people before they reach this crisis point. But we need a system that works with us, not against us. We need councils to step up, to fulfil their legal obligations, and to recognise that a young person’s safety and future should never be an afterthought.

New Solutions: Cambridge Colleges & Local Innovations

Of course, where the system falls short, innovation steps in. Across the UK, organisations and communities are finding creative ways to fill the gaps.

One of the most exciting recent developments comes from Cambridge University, where two of its colleges have launched an initiative to support young people facing homelessness. Their goal? To give young people the tools to build a better future—not just by providing housing but by offering mentorship, education opportunities, and long-term support. This isn’t just about keeping young people off the streets; it’s about giving them the foundation to thrive.

Closer to home, similar schemes are emerging. In Droitwich, a new support programme has launched following successful trials in Evesham. The project is focused on young people aged 16 to 24, offering tailored support to help them find stable housing, secure employment, and develop life skills. It’s a simple concept but an effective one – meeting young people where they are and giving them the tools to move forward.

So, What Needs to Happen?

While these initiatives are inspiring, they shouldn’t be the exception – they should be the standard. The reality is that these kinds of programmes rely on funding, collaboration, and – crucially – a shift in mindset from those in power, willingly or not.

We shouldn’t have to rely on universities and local projects to do the job councils should be doing. We need systemic change – better funding for youth homelessness services, proper support for care leavers, and a legal framework that actually protects vulnerable young people rather than abandoning them to fend for themselves.

At YMCA Leicestershire, we’ll continue to fight for that change. But we also need you – the public, policymakers, and organisations – to stand with us. Support your local services. Challenge your councils. Advocate for real solutions. Because no young person should ever have to navigate homelessness alone.

The system is broken, but together, we can fix it.

To find out more about our work: www.ymcaleics.org.uk

By Marc Ford MBA, Marketing & Digital Content Creator

This past weekend, a sobering article in The Guardian raised alarm bells about how local councils are failing to take homeless 16 and 17-year-olds into care. Many young people in this age group are being left in unsafe, temporary housing arrangements, with little to no support to help them rebuild their lives. And let’s be clear: this isn’t just a problem confined to the big cities – it’s one we see right here in Leicester and across Leicestershire.

As the report pointed out, local authorities often skirt their duty under the law to offer young people the safety and security they need when they face homelessness. According to the Children’s Society, a charity that works to combat youth homelessness, too many councils are either not offering suitable accommodations or pushing youths into unsuitable living conditions that do more harm than good.

Let’s break this down: when a young person under 18 experiences homelessness, it’s not just about finding a roof over their head. It’s about the comprehensive care that comes with it – the emotional, psychological, and physical support to help them thrive. But in many cases, councils are simply placing these vulnerable teens in emergency hostels, hotel rooms or even on the streets. And without a consistent, supportive environment, how on earth can they ever begin to break the ‘cycle’?

Leicestershire is no stranger to these struggles. Our local services, including those at YMCA Leicestershire, are deeply invested in giving young people a second chance – offering more than just a place to sleep, but a safe space where they can receive the care, guidance, and support that they deserve. Our services span not just homelessness support, but also employment training, emotional well-being initiatives, and access to long-term housing, despite the challenges the latter is proving to be.

We see first-hand what can happen when young people are left to navigate homelessness alone. Many arrive at our doors already carrying the weight of trauma – broken homes, struggles with mental health, and deep feelings of isolation and loneliness. The work we aim to do isn’t just about meeting basic needs. It’s about offering a sense of belonging, a sense that no one is beyond help. And that’s something local authorities should be stepping up to provide as well.

We need to start seeing young people as people – fully deserving of safe, permanent homes. It’s time for councils to step up and meet their responsibilities. It’s crucial that we have a system that puts the young person at the centre, not just their immediate housing needs.

In our day-to-day work at YMCA Leicestershire, we’re pushing back against the stigma and challenges that come with being young and homeless. We are always reminded that the young people that we see are not homeless youths; they are just young people experiencing homelessness. Nothing is permanent, but it’s a constant fight. If local authorities aren’t stepping up to their responsibilities, the work we do becomes even more urgent – and increasingly more difficult.

When we hear about councils failing to provide care for vulnerable young people, it’s not just a headline. It’s a call to action. Local authorities need to recognise that youth homelessness is not a simple crisis of a bed and a meal; it’s a systemic issue that requires long-term, holistic solutions. Young people deserve better than to be left to fend for themselves, to be pushed aside into temporary, unsafe living situations.

So, what’s the answer? More collaboration, more funding, (yes, I know, everyone says that) and above all, a shift in perspective and an actual plan. We can’t keep treating homelessness and youth homelessness as a footnote in the housing crisis. These are the young people who will shape the future, but only if we offer them the tools, resources, and support to do so.

We must all be part of this change – from local councils to community organisations like YMCA Leicestershire, to each and every one of us who can play a role in supporting the future of our young people. It’s time to make sure no young person is left to face homelessness alone. The stakes are simply too high.