Could you help change the lives of young people in Eastbourne and Hailsham by volunteering for the YMCA?

Positive Placements started in West Sussex but expanded last summer to include Eastbourne and Hailsham and is now actively working with young people in this area.

The YMCA charity says the project can make a really positive difference.

A young person who benefitted from the scheme said, “I would recommend Positive Placements mentoring to anyone – it changed me, my confidence, my future.”

Positive Placements is a mentoring project run by YMCA DownsLink Group in which young people are matched with volunteer mentors from the local community who support them in weekly meetings of an hour to build confidence, identify their strengths and aspirations, set goals and find opportunities for education or work.

It has been successfully running in other areas of Sussex and Surrey for several years and in the last year alone has supported approximately 80 young people on their journey into work or education.

It opened in the Eastbourne and Hailsham areas in July 2019 and has now recruited and trained its first cohort of volunteers and is matching them with local 16-25 year olds.

Volunteers have been recruited come from a wide range of backgrounds and offer diverse experience and knowledge.

Formal qualifications aren’t needed - patience, empathy and a non-judgemental approach are the most important skills. In return volunteers receive comprehensive training both face-to-face and online, an enhanced DBS check, ongoing support and personal development, as well as support from others in the role and a dedicated YMCA coordinator to ensure they are confident and comfortable with the mentoring relationship.

One mentor said, “Becoming a mentor and working with my mentee has been one of the most rewarding volunteering activities I have done. It has taught me to see situations from another perspective, and together with my mentee we have worked hard to develop a plan and a path forward into employment.”

Positive Placements is open to all young people in Eastbourne and Hailsham. If you know of a young person who would benefit or you are interested in volunteering, email Suzanne Cleverley, Eastbourne’s Positive Placements coordinator,at [email protected]