YMCA England: Helping young people build a future

Since 2006, Center Parcs and YMCA England have made a real, sustainable difference to the lives of young people and local communities through the sale of ex-Center Parcs furniture. This year is no different, as the Center Parcs and YMCA England's partnership enters its 5th year, aiming to donate £60,000 worth of Center Parcs furniture to YMCA shops across the UK.

The agreement started 5 years ago as Center Parcs embarked on a £150 million investment programme into its accommodation. Original Center Parcs furniture was removed and donated to YMCA England's 160 shops located in the heart of communities.

Furniture and homeware, donated to YMCA England shops, offers quality items at affordable prices to those who need a helping hand. The initiative also supports YMCA housing schemes and local councils by offering Center Parcs furniture as starter packs for those new tenants and YMCA residents with a limited budget for household items.

Furniture is collected from Center Parcs locations (Sherwood Forest, Elveden Forest, Longleat Forest and Whinfell Forest), delivered to local YMCA shops by the charity's delivery team and once in the shops, is usually sold within two weeks to local households needing extra support.

So far, the furniture donated has helped the local YMCA shops with over 20,000 items including 6,000 beds, 320 sofas and 320 tables and chairs. Continuing the long-term accommodation programme, this year Center Parcs is restyling a further 330 lodges across all four villages and - ensuring original furniture is put to good use - an estimated £60,000 of ex-Center Parcs items will be donated again to YMCA England shops.

Funds raised by YMCA shops go towards helping important areas of YMCA work, including training schemes, supporting local schools, as well as engaging young people in key local projects so that they can build more positive futures.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Rebecca Armstrong at Center Parcs on 01623 821733 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Notes to Editors

• Founded 166 years ago, the YMCA in England is made up of 135 local YMCAs working to ensure that young people have opportunities to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.
• YMCA operates in over 250 communities in England with 135 local representations, and covers four key areas of work:
  • Offering a safe place to stay – every night, over 7,200 young people stay at a YMCA.
  • Giving young people a fresh start – the YMCA gives young people the support they need to get their lives back on track.
  • Vital support – the YMCA offers a variety of services that help to promote positive family relationships.
  • Helping communities to get active - the YMCA is also the leading provider of industry training in physical activity with over 67,000 people receiving YMCA fitness industry qualifications.
• For further information, please visit www.ymca.org.uk

Center Parcs

• As the leader in the UK short break holiday market, Center Parcs occupies a unique position after 25 years of operation in Britain, enjoying enviable annual occupancy rates in excess of 96%. In that time, the name Center Parcs has become synonymous with the provision of an exceptional short break experience in a forest location.
• Center Parcs offers its guests short break stays over the weekend (Friday to Monday) or midweek (Monday to Friday), 365 days a year. There are currently four Center Parcs locations in the UK; Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk, Longleat Forest in Wiltshire and Whinfell Forest in Cumbria, each with facilities nestled in 400 acres of natural woodland.