What a pity you found it appropriate to publish such a negative, and not always accurate, view of the YMCA in Surbiton (Drugs and drunks, June 12).

The organisation offers a temporary home to unfortunate people who have nowhere else to live and helps many of them to move their lives forward in a positive way.

It is easy enough to criticise – not so easy to find a viable alternative to the support as offered by the YMCA.

Scaremongering headlines may bring readers temporarily but they are no substitute for some unbiased and well-researched reporting.

The dedicated staff at Surbiton YMCA deserve better and they have many supporters – as you would have found if you had bothered to seek comments from those who use the centre’s many facilities on a regular basis.

JILLIAN LAWRENCE
Surbiton