YMCA Stories

“I fled the war in Sudan in 2016. It was not safe for me to live there anymore with all the violence that was happening. When I came to Gloucester I found myself homeless. After a short period of time living in NASS (National Asylum Support Service) accommodation and spent my time sofa surfing before moving...

I came to YMCA Cheltenham in June 2017. When I arrived I was on probation and a suspended sentence and on a compulsory order to engage with the drugs and alcohol services. My life was pretty messed up, I had lost everything including my dog and I won’t lie to you the idea of coming...

Being a young girl of 18 and homeless did scare me, not knowing what was going to happen. This wasn’t the first time I became homeless and the thought of going back into a B&B again wasn’t an option. I was stuck. The embarrassment of my situation made me hesitant to tell anyone, let alone...

Kicked out of home at 17, Simon* had to deal with the harsh reality of being homeless and spent a night on the streets before being signposted to YMCA Cheltenham.  He was still at school, studying for his A-levels.  "My situation was desperate and I moved into YMCA straight away and was given a housing...

At 16, Tom* left home following a relationship breakdown with his parents.  He was homeless, getting into crime and doing “stupid stuff”.  He moved constantly and, in his own words, he “lost his head for a time”. He decided he wanted to move back to Cheltenham as he was feeling lost, away from his friends. ...

I arrived at the YMCA following the breakdown of a long-term relationship.  I had lost everything – my home, my job, my best friend – everything that I had worked towards. I had even lost my confidence.  When I first arrived at the YMCA, all I needed was a bed and a roof, a safe...