The Power of Youth: Could the Next General Election be the Turning Point?

A new report released by YMCA today shows that some 86% of young people under the age of 25 intend to vote in the forthcoming General Election. The survey of 1,054 young people highlighted that their key concerns are housing, jobs, health and inflation.   Mobilising young voters could prove decisive for parties in key…

YMCA research highlights that the benefits system is preventing some young people from gaining employment

Benefits are too low to live on, especially for young people under the age of 25, suggests YMCA, a leading youth organisation supporting young people and adults. The charity has released a comprehensive research report shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals living in supported housing when trying to enter the workforce. The study,…

Supporting Youth Ambassadors

Thank you for supporting Youth Ambassadors Ensuring YMCA services really speak to the changing needs of young people means embedding young people’s realities at the heart of everything we do. Our Youth Ambassadors bring lived experiences of what it is to be a young person today. They help to shape the support we offer and…

In Celebration of Young People

Young people, staff and volunteers were honoured for their outstanding efforts and achievements in the face of adversity at YMCA’s Youth Matters Awards 2022. Behind all of the stories guests heard on the night are people like you, quietly and consistently giving their support to help young people find the courage and determination to turn…

Inspiring stories of intergenerational support – International Youth Day

Ahead of International Youth Day (12 August), and considering the increasingly vital support to be found in communities during such challenging times, we wanted to highlight a project run by YMCA Plymouth which captures this year’s theme of Intergenerational Solidarity perfectly.   Through YMCA Plymouth’s Y’s Group project, students from Discovery College meet in groups with older people from the community to share…

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YMCA | International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England & Wales: “Each year on International Women’s Day (IWD) we not only celebrate women’s achievements but also their determination to challenge norms and drive forward the narrative for gender equality. This feels particularly pertinent this year as we witness the disproportionate effect the pandemic has…

Scott holds ball outside youth club

Scott’s story

Scott, 14 years old, attends a YMCA run open access youth club on Mondays and Thursdays. Gang crime is very prevalent in the area in which Scott lives in and therefore, isn’t an area deemed safe enough to play out. Scott and his friends rely on the youth club to hang with one another and…

Alan outside YMCA Hayes

Alan’s story

Alan is 28 years old and is a youth worker at YMCA Hayes. Alan arrived to the UK from South Africa (Alan is originally from Zimbabwe) as a refugee and an unaccompanied young minor at just 17 years old. Alan was in care up until the age of 21, where Alan was deemed responsible for…