Homeless Outcomes Star Training

As part of Shine; a YMCA regional complex needs project; 15 staff from The Y Charity, YMCA Birmingham, YMCA Wellington, YMCA Lincolnshire and YMCA Burton undertook training in using the Homelessness Outcomes Star. The training was provided by Homeless Link and delivered by Colin Dyson who talked us through the benefits of using the star tool as a resource for supporting people using our services and to record important data to ensure we are adapting our services to the needs of the people who use them. Many thanks to Homeless Link and Colin Dyson for a great day!

Enabling Environments

On Tuesday 30th of July, Forensic Psychologist and Enabling Environment Lead; Ronald Woodward delivered training to staff from across the Shine Project as we all prepare to start the journey to becoming ‘Enabling Environments’ and earning the Enabling Enviroments Award.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists have put together this training and accreditation based on ten values, all of which are believed to be factors in positive psycho-social environments and therefore making an environment enabling.

YMCA; Burton, Lincolnshire, North Staffordshire, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Wellington and Leicester will identify opportunities for improving our offer to staff and residents and implement changes ensuring we keep relationships between staff and residents at the centre of our work.

Many thanks to Ronald for an interesting day which has left us with lots of food for thought! We are all very much looking forward to working towards and achieving the Enabling Environments Award.

Watch this space!

YMCA Wellington Shine Induction Day

YMCA Wellington and District; one of seven YMCAs to partner for Shine Project, held a fantastic induction day with their staff teams to launch the project, the Shine Worker role and the Enabling Environments Award process. Their Shine Worker presented lots of interesting information about the ways in which ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) can impact later life but more importantly how we, as vital trusted adults can support young people to access and develop protective factors and reduce the cyclical nature of complex needs and negative later life experiences. Staff training and awareness events are an important part of the project and ensure our staff are equipped with the knowledge and tools to understand and respond to the needs of young people who have experienced multiple disadvantage. 

To find out more about Shine, click here.

6 Shine Complex Needs Workers Appointed

On Wednesday 8th of May 2019, The Y was so pleased to host an induction day for the newly appointed Shine workers. Recruited as part of Shine: the regional complex needs project, the six recruits got together for the first time to talk about the project and their new role. In addition to meeting each other, the group met project coordinator, Hannah, The Y’s CEO, Paul Brown and The Y’s complex needs worker, Kay (The Y has had a complex needs worker since 2015).

The day involved detailed conversations about complex needs and how Shine workers can support the project and best serve the young people our YMCAs accommodate. This was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and talk about what is expected of the project and the Shine workers.

Shine will be instrumental to complex needs work within the East and West Midlands and will enable the region to implement it’s health and wellbeing strategy.

A very warm welcome to:

  • Murray (YMCA Wellington & District)
  • James (YMCA Birmingham)
  • Louise (YMCA Burton)
  • Scott (YMCA Lincolnshire)
  • Kirsty (YMCA Sutton Coldfield)
  • Samuel (YMCA North Staffordshire) *Not in picture

Many thanks also to Dr Kate Broadhurst, who is our external evaluator for the project. Kate will be supporting the project by auditing what works and what can be improved. If you would like to learn more about Shine, please do have a look at the webpage here. If you would like to read more about the funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and and what it should deliver, have a look at this post.

The Y Receives Big Lottery Funding for Complex Needs

The Y in Leicester has been granted funding to support
young people with complex needs across the region.

The Y, here in Leicester has received confirmation of funding to address the increasing complex needs of young people across the east and west midlands. The £443,475 award from Big Lottery Fund will provide specialist help for complex and challenging young people to access and sustain accommodation.

This project will help six YMCAs across the midlands region to better support young people with complex needs whilst also ensuring that a change of organisational culture towards these young people takes place.

What is Complex Needs?

When a young person has two or more support needs in addition to homelessness they are at a much higher risk of self-destructive behaviours, losing their accommodation and falling into a cycle of homelessness.
Examples of some other support needs are:
• Mental health issues
• Substance misuse
• Offending behaviour
• Learning disabilities
• Domestic abuse
• Childhood poverty
• Looked after child
• Sexual exploitation

In June 2017 The Henry Smith Charity awarded The Y three years of funding for our own specialist complex needs worker. This post has contributed significantly in managing high risk/ high support cases by having dedicated time and a therapeutic approach to address behaviour, preventing unplanned exits from the service.

Regional Complex Needs Project

The project aims to make a direct difference to the lives of 216 young people throughout the midlands who are identified as having complex needs. Over 2000 other young people will also benefit from the sharing of best practice through the regional and national YMCA network.

This is the first regional project that has been developed within the central region of YMCAs and will enable them to fully implement their regional Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

The YMCAs that will take part include The Y in Leicester who are leading the project, plus 6 others:
YMCA Lincolnshire
YMCA Birmingham
YMCA Burton Upon Trent & District
YMCA Wellington & District
YMCA North Staffordshire
YMCA Sutton Coldfield

Paul Brown, Chief Executive of The Y says:
“This will be a wonderful opportunity for YMCAs to work collaboratively, ensuring that young people receive an intensive wrap around service. Far too often, disengaged young people are falling through the cracks of services which results in increased mental health issues, substance misuse and isolation.

We have worked so hard over the last few years to develop our own complex needs service here in Leicester and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to assist other YMCAs to roll this out to their own young people.”