Health & Housing Assembly 2025

YMCA St Paul’s Group Joins South London Citizens – Health & Housing Assembly 2025

On Tuesday 21st October 2025, over 950 community leaders from across South London filled St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, for South London Citizens’ biggest assembly ever. It was a powerful evening celebrating community wins and calling for further action on mental health, migrant healthcare access, housing, and the Living Wage.

YMCA St Paul’s Group was represented by a group of staff, residents and volunteers, who joined faith groups, schools, and community organisations to stand together for justice and fairness. The event featured inspiring testimonies, music and performances, and new commitments from NHS and Local Authority leaders to continue tackling health inequality and the housing crisis.

Martin Bushaway, YMCA St St Paul’s Group Progression Coach served as one of the event’s co-chairs, and Sade Walters, a progression team volunteer and YMCA Youth Council member, shared her powerful perspective on housing issues, highlighting the real challenges faced by residents and the urgent need for change.

The evening also featured a performance by the YMCA St Paul’s Group Residents’ Drama Group, who presented a short play about the realities of experiencing homelessness. This was a powerful way to remind everyone why this work matters.

Other highlights included pledges to support the Be Well project, open up unused NHS land for affordable housing, and ensure free alternatives to GP letters for residents affected by poor housing conditions.

YMCA St Paul’s Group was proud to stand alongside our South London Citizens partners, showing once again that real change happens when communities come together.