Other Services

Other new services have developed generically through our work with Ryder House residents and young people from the wider community. The 'Get Connected' service which offers information, advice and guidance to 15-25 year olds received almost 300 enquiries in its first full year. Kent Guidance Consortium and Kent Careers Service now run regular outreach sessions based in Ryder House offering a high quality service to our residents and the wider community. A confidential Independent Counselling Service is now available, to whoever is in need, ran by fully qualified counsellors.

A study of applications for emergency housing showed that most applicants were living in someone else's home. These are the hidden homeless - sofa surfers. Crisis estimates that the total number might be 400,000 in England. On this basis, the figure may be 40,000 in the South East. Hot Spots, typically, have more than double the regional average of applications for emergency accommodation classed as being in 'Priority Need'. In the South East, these include Adur, Brighton and Hove, Crawley, Eastbourne, Gosport, Havant, The Isle of Wight, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton and Tunbridge Wells -Crisis 2001.

West Kent YMCA is committed to working with other voluntary and statutory organisations to develop a cohesive and effective local homeless strategy which integrates educational and preventative approaches as well as bricks and mortar solutions.

West Kent YMCA Housing working together with: YMCA England, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, The Housing Corporation, KCC Supporting People Team, Kent Social Services, Kent 16+, West Kent Y.O.T, Kent Probation, Kent Police, Kent Careers, Kent Youth and Community, Kent Guidance Consortium, Kent Substance Misuse Team, Kent Health Authority, The Bridge Trust, Bailey Housing, Shelter, High Weald Housing Association, Christian Alliance Housing Association, Cornerstone, Employment Services, Department of Social Security, Adolescent Resource Centre, Fegans Child and Family Care, A K Consultants, West Kent College, NACAB, Tunbridge Wells Town Centre Safety Partnership.

Ryder House

A home - not just a place to stay

Referal Form

Ryder House fund-raising flyer

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