Denise Hatton, Chief Executive, YMCA England & Wales, said: “YMCA is concerned by Government plans to introduce tougher measures as part of a so-called ‘clamp down’ on street homelessness in England and Wales. Alongside 36 other organisations, we have written to Home Secretary, urging him to reconsider damaging proposals to fine and imprison people forced…
As the UK prepares for the next General Election, YMCA has today launched a bold plan to urge political parties and leaders to seize the opportunity to create positive change for young people. Using the timely call to action of “Now’s Our Chance,” YMCA emphasises the critical need for comprehensive and targeted policies to address…
Cat started her journey with YMCA Barry Y’s Girls Project as a volunteer mentor, before training as a Youth Worker and joining the team as a Project Coordinator. Get to know Cat as she shares her passion and aspirations for the future in continuing to support young girls aged 9-14 to be their best. What…
#YouthWorkWeek may be over, but the much needed spotlight on youth work lives on! We’d like to introduce you to Laura, an incredible Project Coordinator at YMCA Bradford for Y’s Girls Mentoring Programme funded by Benefact Trust. This invaluable project is empowering young people by embedding a trusted support system for girls aged 9-14 experiencing difficulties,…
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…
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,…
Denise Hatton’s blog to commemorate International Women’s Day: This year’s #BreakTheBias theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) is one that is especially close to our hearts at YMCA. In 700 communities across England and Wales, local YMCAs help more than 570,000 young people to break the bias every day, both in terms of how others…
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…
Words by Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of the National Council of YMCAs Deciding what to do after leaving school can be a daunting task for many young people. Figuring out the rest of your life is never an easy decision but, for today’s generation, it’s probably harder than ever. For most young people who are…
Young people care about how they look. I know what you are thinking and, yes, this is a relatively unsurprising fact, particularly to me when I recall how long I used to take to get ready as a teenager and when I look today at my own daughters’ behaviour where very similar traits appear to…
