YMCA Worcestershire is calling on local people, businesses, schools and community groups to take part in YMCA Sleep Easy 2026, a national fundraising challenge taking place on Saturday 17th October 2026, to help tackle the growing crisis of youth homelessness. One night can make a lifetime of difference.
Supporters are invited to join YMCA Worcestershire for its YMCA Sleep Easy fundraising event, where participants will come together at Redditch United Football Club on Saturday 17th October 2026 from 7pm util 7am. Fundraisers join other participants and will spend the night sleeping in a shared space, giving up the comfort of their own beds while raising vital funds to support young people experiencing homelessness in the local community.
By coming together for the night, participants will be part of a shared experience that builds solidarity, raises awareness and helps YMCA Worcestershire to provide safe homes and tailored support for young people who need it most.
YMCA Sleep Easy challenges participants to give up their bed for one night and sleep somewhere uncomfortable, such as a garden, garage or office floor, to gain a small insight into the reality faced by thousands of young people who do not have a safe place to call home.
A crisis facing young people
Across England and Wales, a young person aged 16–24 is assessed as homeless or at risk of homelessness every eight minutes. That equates to seven young people every hour, 176 every day, and more than 1,200 every week.
Despite making up just 11% of the population, young people account for 18% of all people assessed as homeless or at risk of homelessness, meaning one in six people facing homelessness is aged 16–24.
Recent figures show an 8% increase in young people assessed as homeless or at risk in Wales, highlighting continued pressure on housing and the private rented sector.
Local impact
Youth homelessness is continuing to rise, with 7,603 young people aged 16–25 recorded as homeless across the West Midlands in 2023–24, including 2,151 in Worcestershire alone. Many young people in this age group face significant instability, often due to family breakdown or leaving the care system without access to safe accommodation. This is compounded by a lack of trusted adult support, leaving them without consistent guidance during times of crisis. At the same time, high private rental costs and a shortage of affordable housing options make it extremely difficult for them to secure stable accommodation. Emergency crisis beds are also limited, increasing the risk of under-18s being placed in unsafe or unsuitable temporary settings. Demand for support continues to grow; since April 2025, 122 young people have been referred to YMCA Worcestershire supported accommodation services, with over 90 still waiting for placement. In response, we have supported 130 young people this year, delivering more than 1,500 hours of Life Coach support between October and December 2025 alone.
YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of supported housing for young people in England and Wales, providing more than 10,400 safe beds every night and supporting over 20,000 people experiencing homelessness each year.
Why Sleep Easy matters
For many young people, homelessness is driven by rising rents, insecure tenancies and a lack of affordable housing. The end of private rented tenancies remains the leading cause of homelessness across all age groups, underlining the urgent need for prevention services and long-term housing solutions.
Funds raised through YMCA Sleep Easy directly support YMCA Worcestershire’s housing services, helping young people move away from crisis and towards stability, independence and opportunity.
Local YMCA quote
YMCA Worcestershire’s Chief Executive, Annette Daly, said:
“None of us are too old to remember how we were as teenagers – but can you imagine yourself back there, facing the dilemma of having nowhere safe to sleep? That is the reality for too many young people – right here in Worcestershire. Anything we can do to provide this essential need can help these youngsters find stability and begin to develop the confidence to turn their lives in a more positive direction.
YMCA Worcestershire’s Sleep Easy is our chance to stand together as a community and say that our young people deserve so much more than uncertainty and insecurity. By taking part, participants will directly help us to extend and enhance our ongoing work to provide safe homes, trusted support and real hope for the future. We are deeply grateful to all who support us in any way.”
How to get involved
- Sign up at https://forms.office.com/e/2W3VeT14MM
- Set up your fundraising page (the form above provides another link to do this)
- Share your experience on social media using #YMCASleepEasy2026 to inspire others to get involved
For more information, please contact events@ymcaworcestershire.org.uk
