Brighton YMCA
Supported Housing • Supporting Potential
At Brighton YMCA, we house and support single men and women with a diverse range of
needs, enabling them to improve their wellbeing, gain skills and maximise their confidence
so that they can go on to live independent and fulfilling lives.
We are a well established charity in Brighton and Hove, having responded to the local
housing need since 1870. We are a key partner of Brighton and Hove City Council in
providing supported accommodation for the city.
We are a member of the wider YMCA movement.
Who do we support?
We support vulnerable men and women with a past history of homelessness or
disadvantage. At present we house 280 people local to Brighton and Hove. This represents
56% of the people in Brighton and Hove with similar support needs.
What services do we provide?
We support the people who use our service to believe in themselves, their potential and
what they can achieve through a variety of services. We do not just provide housing, but
offer a supportive, encouraging environment so that people can realise their true potential.
Our services:
 Housing: We provide shared and self-contained accommodation, across five
different projects, in Brighton, Hove and Portslade.
 Support: All our projects are staffed. Our project workers are trained to a high
standard to provide the best care and support for our customers on the road from
supported housing to independent living.
 Life Skills: Our LASER accredited Life Skills Course based at George Williams
Centre is opened to all our clients. This is a popular Life Skills Course, providing
workshops in three main areas: Cookery, Personal Development and Information
Technology. Our Life Skills tutors are experienced and well trained. They all have
experience in supported housing work and are therefore best placed to ensure
attendees get the most out of the courses.
 Opportunities for self-expression: Our Art and Music Groups are run by
experienced and dedicated staff and offer our clients opportunities to express
themselves.
 Throughout the year, we hold Health and Well-Being, Work and Learning and
Move On events, where we invite our clients to engage with other support
providers in the city.
Our Mission and Aims
Our Mission: Supported Housing • Supporting Potential
Brighton YMCA’s mission is to house and, where possible, re-settle homeless men and
women of all ages. We wish to provide best opportunities for our clients to reach their full
potential and eventually move on towards independent living.
Our aims are:
1. To provide a caring, supportive and rehabilitative environment;
2. To empower our clients to help them achieve their full potential and maximise their
independence;
3. To treat everyone fairly and with respect, regardless of race, ethnic origin,
disability, sexual orientation or age;
4. To offer best value for money by developing our staff team and our range of
premises.
More about us...
A few historical facts
Experience and tradition
Brighton YMCA was founded in 1870. From its base in Steine House it provided
accommodation for single people such as servicemen and apprentices.
In 1967 it began to accommodate those under the care of the local authority, such as single
mothers and their children and homeless people.
In 1975 Brighton YMCA became a Housing Association. To continue to meet the needs of
our clients, we started to expand and develop other properties.
George Williams House was opened in 1986. Following a DCLG grant, the site was
redeveloped and became George Williams Mews and Life Skills Centre and was
inaugurated in 2009. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal opened the Centre.
On the 14th of August 1989, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal opened William Collier
House.
Morton Court opened in 1992, Fred Emery Court in 1995, Stanley Court in 1997 and Leslie
Best House in 2000.
Unfortunately, in 2009, following a fire, Steine House was assessed as unfit for housing and
it closed. Following extensive fire proofing work, our Head Office moved into the building in
2012, however a large part of the building remains unoccupied. We are now seeking
funding to redevelop the remaining of the building into further housing for the homeless
and to restore some of the features of the building to their original historical value.
More about Steine House
The building where it all started
Brighton YMCA have been providing services for the community since 1870 from Steine
House. Steine House is a building of historical and architectural value. It was designed and
built for Maria Fitzherbert, wife of George I V, Prince of Wales and later King, in 1804 by
William Porden. Porden went on to design the stables and garden for the Royal Pavilion in
Brighton, George IV’s summer residence. Porden’s designs of Steine House were exhibited
at the Royal Academy at the time, together with designs of the Royal Pavilion.
According to the architectural historian researching the building, Steine House is one of the
most important buildings from a historical point of view in Brighton.
Steine House remains a Grade II listed building by English Heritage.
And finally...
Did you know that...
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Even though we maintain our YMCA name and connection with the YMCA
movement, anyone with support needs can apply to us, irrespective of their faith,
gender or sexuality.
Two of our five projects have been opened by a member of the Royal Family.
William Collier House in 1988 and George Williams House in 2009.
Even following serious funding cuts, we still provide nearly 300 homes for vulnerable
single people with just over 60 employed staff.
We are contracted to provide supported housing using Supporting People
standards and have achieved excellence at our latest standards assessment (A,A,A,
A, B in the areas under scrutiny).
We have always provided good value for money and, having a long history of service
to the community, intend to continue with this important work for many more
years to come - especially now that numbers of homeless people appear to be rising
rapidly.
Brighton YMCA is a Registered Social Landlord and a Registered Charity.