About Us
Helping People Thrive in Brighton & Hove
YMCA Brighton is a registered charity supporting people across Brighton & Hove to belong, contribute, and thrive.
As the city’s oldest housing charity — supporting the community since 1870 — we work with around 400 people each year who are homeless or at risk.
We provide more than just accommodation. Our services include safe supported housing, personalised coaching, mental health and wellbeing support, training, and volunteering opportunities.
Whether someone needs a fresh start or a sense of purpose, YMCA Brighton is here to help people move forward with confidence.
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Who we support
We work with people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our services support people to build confidence, gain life skills, and move towards independent living.
How can we help
YMCA Brighton is a registered charity supporting the local people of Brighton and Hove to belong, contribute and thrive, in a consistent effort to reduce homelessness and increase wellbeing. To find out how to access our services:
Our annual impact
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people supported with housing
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people accessed work, training, or education opportunities
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days a year we provide housing and wellbeing support
What drives us at YMCA Brighton
Our vision, mission and values shape everything we do to help people thrive in Brighton & Hove.
Our vision
Working together to create an inclusive community where everyone can belong, contribute and thrive.
Our mission
We provide the home, the community and the services that equip people to overcome barriers and achieve their aims.
Our values
YMCA Leadership
Hekate Heathcote
Manager of Fred Emery Court
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Hekate Heathcote
Manager of Fred Emery Court
Lodovica di Nardo
Senior Coach of EVOLVE
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Lodovica di Nardo
Senior Coach of EVOLVE
Ruby Fong
Manager of George Williams Mews
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Ruby Fong
Manager of George Williams Mews
Sue Nobbs
Manager of Small Houses
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Sue Nobbs
Manager of Small Houses
James McNeil
Manager of Bennett House
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James McNeil
Manager of Bennett House
Grace Cassidy
Manager of Leslie Best House
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Grace Cassidy
Manager of Leslie Best House
Alyshia O’Brien
Manager of William Collier House
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Alyshia O’Brien
Manager of William Collier House
Lorna Sharp
Manager of Steine House
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Lorna Sharp
Manager of Steine House
Hélène Begg
Chief Executive Officer
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Hélène Begg
Chief Executive Officer
Hélène is originally from France and moved to the UK in 2000. Her first job post university was a project worker role at YMCA Brighton at George Williams Mews. Hélène then went on to become a Senior project worker at Steine House and joined the William Collier House management team in 2007 where she worked for 10 years. She left the organisation in 2017 for a senior leadership role in Health and Social Care where she continued to develop accessible services for marginalised populations.
Hélène feels privileged to have re-joined YMCA Brighton in January 2023 as the Head of Housing and Community Services to support the organisation on its transformational journey, and from November 2023 YMCA Brighton were fortunate to appoint Hélène as our CEO. You can get in touch with Hélène on helene.begg@brightonymca.co.uk
Andrew Martin
Head of Finance
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Andrew Martin
Head of Finance
Andrew joined the YMCA in July 2024 following a career of more than thirty years in senior finance. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in History, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and then gained a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. He has extensive experience in the Not-For-Profit sector as well as the private and public sectors. He is excited to be joining YMCA Brighton and looks forward to helping the team to continue to provide a high quality service to our residents.
Sascha Deighton
Head of Operations
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Sascha Deighton
Head of Operations
Sascha joined YMCA Brighton in March 2024, having previously worked in Brighton for the past 30 years with vulnerable and multiple compound needs clients in prisons, probation, housing, and substance misuse services. Her last post being the service manager for CGL drug and alcohol recovery service.
You can get in touch with Sascha on sascha.deighton@brightonymca.co.uk
Natasha Hooper
Lead Service Development Manager
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Natasha Hooper
Lead Service Development Manager
Natasha joined YMCA Brighton as a project worker at George Williams Mews in 2003 – progressing to senior project worker, then Deputy Manager until moving to a Manager role at William Collier House and Steine House (formally a 62-bed project) in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
In 2010, Natasha joined the Central Office and went on to become a part of the senior management team in 2014 overseeing policy, compliance and quality monitoring. Looking forward, Natasha is enthusiastic to be a part of a strong Leadership Team, driving the strategy and upholding the organisation’s mission and values. You can get in touch with Natasha on Natasha.hooper@brightonymca.co.uk
Sarah Johnston-Ellis
Chair
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Sarah Johnston-Ellis
Chair
Sarah joined the Brighton YMCA Board in November 2013, and was elected as Chair in November 2020.
For almost 20 years Sarah has been involved in the governance of several nonprofit organisations in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Sarah is passionate about the pivotal role of strategic governance in creating and developing organisations that enable individuals and communities to feel empowered and supported to realise their personal ambitions.
You can get in touch with Sarah on chair@brightonymca.co.uk.
Annabel Fenton
Trustee
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Annabel Fenton
Trustee
Originally from South Africa, Annabel now leads research communications for the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC), based at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she works on knowledge exchange and impact for a range of social care, mental health and other related research projects. Prior to this, she was a Communications Coordinator at the Institute of Development Studies, based at the University of Sussex. Annabel has made Brighton her home since November 2021, and is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and wellbeing for all residents.
Prior to moving to the UK to work in research, Annabel had a career in policy engagement, management consulting and grassroots charity work focusing on strategy and impact. She studied economics and geography and completed her Master’s in Urban Geography, exploring experiences of discrimination against domestic workers in Johannesburg, and maintains an interest in this area. She is excited to be part of the YMCA Brighton community, and hopes that her range of experience will help bolster the organisation’s reach and impact, especially in this precarious time of increasing homelessness and tightening budgets – when supported accommodation is so critical.
Kelly Lin
Trustee
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Kelly Lin
Trustee
Kelly moved to Brighton in 2021 and is passionate about the big issues that impacting her new chosen home. She is an economist with extensive experience in the NHS and private sector delivering evidence-driven strategy and policy programmes. Most recently Kelly was in a senior leadership role in the Innovation, Research and Life Sciences team in NHS England helping NHS organisations develop strategies to deliver better care to patients through digital innovation. Prior to joining the NHS she was a strategy consultant and worked in finance.
Kelly has two young children currently in school in Brighton and enjoys paddleboarding and walks in the South Downs.
Nathaniel Lawford
Trustee
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Nathaniel Lawford
Trustee
Alexis Howsam
Trustee
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Alexis Howsam
Trustee
Lex was born in Brighton in 1981 and returned back to live here with her son 14 years ago. She has worked in senior health leadership roles for the past 15 years supporting the transformation of primary care (GP Surgeries) and integrating NHS services with local charities and social care. Currently she is working on digital transformation in the NHS. She is passionate about improving access to care for patients and coproduction with communities. Having worked at Marie Curie for 9 years, she is also an advocate for better end of life care for patients in England. Lex has a son and a blue-eyed cockapoo who joins her on runs in the south downs.
Ian Vallance
Trustee
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Ian Vallance
Trustee
David Hancock
Vice Chair
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David Hancock
Vice Chair
David joined the Board in 1995 after moving to Brighton. Before retiring, David worked at a senior management level in an Inner London housing department. He has also been involved in the governance of a number of housing organisations including Brighton Housing Trust and Hyde Housing. He is a chartered member of the Institute of Housing.
Keith Hollis
Trustee
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Keith Hollis
Trustee
Keith Hollis has lived in Sussex for much of his life and was for some years a judge working in the civil courts across the whole County. Formerly a solicitor, he had previously established his own solicitor’s practice in South London specialising in housing and environmental issues. He has been a trustee for the Sussex Community Foundation, which for some years he chaired, and for other Sussex based charities.As well as his professional interest in housing and environmental law he has developed an interest in charitable governance and strategy development. During his time a Chair of the trustees of the Sussex Community Foundation he oversaw the development of a new strategy and was closely involved in the Foundation’s work in addressing the challenges faced by small charities during the Covid emergency.
Hugh McShane
Trustee
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Hugh McShane
Trustee
A qualified Chartered Surveyor for more than 30 years, Hugh lives in Hurstpierpoint with his wife, Sarah and when he’s not playing ‘Dads’ football at Hurstpierpoint School to raise money for an orphanage charity in Malawi, he is a keen golfer and is more than happy to spend a day on the golf course.
Michael Rosenberg
Trustee
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Michael Rosenberg
Trustee
Dr Michael Rosenberg born 1949. He was born, brought up and educated in Sussex. He is a retired consultant psychiatrist who worked in Brighton and Hove from 1981 until retirement. During his clinical years he was closely associated with the Brighton YMCA and rapidly came to be in awe of the work they do with their client group.
He went on to hold senior Executive roles in what was then South Downs NHS Health Trust ending up as Chief Executive. He is married with three very successful adult children who are now providing he and his wife with the joy of grandchildren.
Nigel Pollard
Trustee
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Nigel Pollard
Trustee
Nigel has lived in East Sussex for 20 years and shares the YMCA’s mission to support individuals to live their lives in the fullest way possible. Addressing the basic need for housing in the community is something that I care about and the YMCA in Brighton has been providing these services for many years. He is delighted to join in supporting this work. He has worked across both commercial and not for profit sectors in leadership roles. This includes a wide range of experience in developing and implementing strategic plans for businesses as well as UK charities, management of operations, leading projects for IT, HR, property developments and governance. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management (FinstLM) and enjoys working to help businesses and people grow and develop. Away from work He enjoys travel and family time.
Our history
We’ve been serving Brighton & Hove since 1871. Over the decades, our work has adapted to meet the changing needs of the community — but our focus has always remained the same: providing support, opportunity, and hope for those who need it most.
YMCA through the years
The history and heritage of YMCA and YMCA Brighton.
1844
YMCA was founded by Sir George Williams – a worker in the drapery trade in London. Concerned about the welfare of his fellow workers, he started a prayer and bible study group. This soon grew and attracted men from across London.
1844-1849
YMCA begins to address other concerns of young men working in the cities. Public lectures and education classes are developed. Reading rooms and refreshment areas help young men to adjust to urban life.
1845
YMCA spreads outside London and branches are set up in Manchester and Leeds.
1870
YMCA Brighton was founded in 1870. From its base in Steine House it provided accommodation for single people such as servicemen and apprentices.
1967
In 1967 Steine House began to accommodate those under the care of the local authority, such as single mothers and their children and homeless people.
1975
In 1975 YMCA Brighton registered as a Housing Association. It did this in order to continue to meet the needs of our clients. It also paved the way for future developments.
1986
George Williams House was opened in 1986. George Williams House had formerly been a children’s home known as “Highlands” which was closed by East Sussex County Council.
1989
On the 14th of August 1989, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal opened William Collier House. William Collier House was named after William Collier MBE, YMCA Brighton’s Chief Executive from 1967 to 1990.
1992
Morton Court, a block of 27 flats on Old Shoreham Road in Portslade, opened in 1992. Morton Court was named after the late James Morton, who had been Chairman of YMCA Brighton.
1995
Fred Emery Court was completed in 1995 and was named after long standing Board Member Fred Emery.
1997
Stanley Court, a block of 31 studio flats, started to be managed by YMCA Brighton in 1997.
The church front of the building is all that now remains of the Lewes Road Congregational Church, built in 1872.
2000
Leslie Best House, completed in 2000, was developed under a government initiative to reduce rough sleeping. The building itself is named after former YMCA Brighton Board Member Leslie Best. The house offered mixed accommodation until 2019, when it started to offer women’s only housing.
2009
In March 2009, the redevelopment of George Williams Mews was completed. This included 25 en-suite bedrooms in 5 houses, 37 studio flats and an office block and a work and learning centre. In January 2010, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal formerly opened the project.
Unfortunately 2009 also saw a fire take hold at Steine House, which caused significant damage and contributed to the closure of Steine House as a provider of hostel accommodation.
2012
Following extensive fire repairs, in 2012 YMCA Brighton moved its Registered Office to Steine House.
2018
In 2018, Leslie Best House started to offer women’s only accommodation. This was a much welcome change in housing provision in the city.
2018
Later the same year, Bennett House was acquired and thus YMCA Brighton had the opportunity to support vulnerable people in 10 more housing units.
Together, We Can Help Brighton Thrive
Our work is only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Whether you donate, take part in fundraising, or volunteer, you can help us make a real and lasting difference.