YMCA Cheltenham has helped more people into safe accommodation over the past year than at any time in its 169-year history, as homelessness and poverty continue to rise across Gloucestershire.
The charity, founded in 1855, revealed the figures at its Annual General Meeting on 22 October at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, attended by trustees, supporters, and partner organisations.
Between 2024 and 2025, YMCA Cheltenham provided housing for 843 people across the county – including 278 children and young people and 149 families – delivering 98,644 nights of safe accommodation. Without that support, many of those individuals would have faced homelessness.
Demand for food support has also surged. The charity’s Feed Cheltenham team distributed more than £8,000 in food vouchers, while 2,748 people accessed local food services to help them through hardship.
Chief executive Joseph Main described a year of “challenges and triumphs” amid a worsening national housing crisis. Reports now suggest the country needs 90,000 new social rent homes a year for the next decade to end homelessness.
Family homelessness has risen by 20% in the last five years, with government data showing a record 172,420 children living in temporary accommodation. In Gloucestershire alone, 268 children were counted as homeless last year – 100 more than the year before.
Meanwhile, 4.5 million children in the UK are now living in poverty, with inflation, rising bills and constrained incomes pushing more families to the brink.
“The past year has seen a worrying rise in poverty and family homelessness,” said Mr Main.
“Costs are rising while donations fall. Despite these pressures, we remain committed to supporting our community.”
Last Christmas, 58 children woke up in YMCA accommodation rather than in a permanent home.
Mr Main said the charity welcomed the Government’s recent pledge of £2bn for social and affordable housing, and its wider target to build 1.5 million homes over the current Parliament, but warned much more was needed.
“YMCA Cheltenham sees first-hand the challenges families face,” he added.
“We will continue to campaign for better housing conditions and long-term solutions.”
Looking ahead, the charity plans to expand support for children and young people, deepen community engagement and increase help for families – while working to prevent homelessness at its root.
Mr Main said YMCA Cheltenham is “immensely grateful” for the backing it receives from donors and volunteers.
“Without that support, we simply couldn’t continue this vital work,” he said.