YMCA Norfolk

YMCA Norfolk

Helping young people towards a brighter future

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Youth Matters Awards

2024

Help us celebrate the achievements of Young People, Staff & Volunteers

The Youth Matters Awards showcases the outstanding achievements, inspiring feats against adversity and tireless dedication to creating change of YMCA’s across England & Wales.

We are absolutely thrilled to have 3 projects, 2 individuals and our local YMCA through to the public vote semi-finals! We’d love to see all our nominations make it through to the final and to celebrate the impact our incredible colleagues, volunteers and service users have made across Norfolk.

Vote for YMCA Norfolk

Closing Date for Voting: 27th August 2024

Find out more about our Nominations:

This award recognises a YMCA that in the last year has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and the wider community.

YMCA Norfolk supported more than 21,500 individuals and provided 382 young people with a safe place to live across Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn over the last 12 months.

As well as our nominated projects detailed below (Umbrella, Professional Therapeutic Pathway and the E-Learning Service), a number of our other projects and interventions have had significant impact on the local communities we serve across the last year.

The SOS Bus, focusing on the provision of preventative measures, first aid assistance, and aid for the homeless in Kings Lynn, saved the NHS an estimated £20,600 in the last year.

YMCA Norfolk’s Life Ready project supported over 75 young people to gain vital life skills and prepare them for their future, and recently received £500,000 funding to extend across Norfolk for an additional three years.

Over 450 youth club sessions were delivered around Norfolk last year.

The Community Hub welcomed over 67,000 visitors to Williams’ Kitchen café and over 40,000 visits to Explorers Soft Play to date.

The hub is also home to the free weekly parent and baby group, and Muddy Puddles Nursery which enrolled 147 children and continues to receive amazing feedback from parents and carers.

YMCA Norfolk is proud of its growing expansion within staff, support, and services and looks forward to having a continued impact on the Norfolk community.

ymca ymcas [SQUARE] campaigner

This award recognises a young person for their ability to make a real difference in their YMCA by bringing about positive change, working with vision and inspiring others.

Jess has been key in amplifying youth voices and advocating for the needs of young people as a YMCA Youth Ambassador and YMCA Norfolk resident in the last year.

She has become a regular guest at the House of Commons, attending Homeless Link’s Mass Lobby Day, the All-Party Parliamentary Group and YMCA’s Youth Manifesto Launch, for which she was interviewed by BBC 1 Politics East.

Jess also continues to make a significant impact on a local scale by passionately supporting various events within YMCA Norfolk, such as their ‘Small Talks’ sessions and annual Sleep Easy fundraiser – where she bravely shared her story of facing homelessness due to the cost of living crisis. Jess also helped YMCA Norfolk secure £160,000 towards their ‘Work Ready’ programme by attending a funding panel and speaking passionately about the importance of support for young people and in particular job opportunities and work-related experience.

ymca ymcas [SQUARE] volunteer

This award recognises a dedicated young volunteer who has shown outstanding commitment to YMCA and contributed energy, skills and time.

Ruth has championed the mission of YMCA both locally within YMCA Norfolk and across England and Wales for a number of years. She has been involved with the Youth Ambassador programme since 2022, volunteering her time to be a voice of young people.

What stands out with Ruth is her enthusiasm and willingness to give anything a go, whether that is being part of the interview panel for the new Chair of YMCA England & Wales, to presenting an award at last year’s Youth Matters Awards. She is willing to give up her time to support the work of YMCA England & Wales and represent the Youth Ambassador programme.

Locally, she has supported YMCA Norfolk in a range of projects and campaigns to engage young people and ensure their voice is heard. Most recently, she co-ordinated YMCA Norfolk’s Y-Vote event, supporting and educating young people on the process of voting and encouraging conversations around what young people’s key priorities were for the General Election.

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This award recognises a YMCA that has delivered an innovative and inspiring Family & Youth Work project that has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and/or the wider community.

What is Umbrella?

The Umbrella Service is a key housing provision within YMCA Norfolk. They provide accommodation for single parent families (of all genders), with access to 24-hour assistance alongside intensive family support in both Norwich and Great Yarmouth for up to two years. Support is provided in wide range of areas including budgeting and finance, substance misuse, mental and physical health, and education.

In the last year, 46 individuals were supported, representing 20 young parent families. According to the residents’ annual survey, 100% of them reported they believe YMCA are helping transform their lives. One young parent was an ex-drug user at risk of losing their child. Through the support of the Umbrella team, they were approved for personal independence payment (PIP), accessed GP services for themselves and enrolled their son into nursery. These factors significantly contributed to the positive result of their social work assessment which resulted in the family staying together. Another parent had fled domestic violence with their young child, while pregnant. The Umbrella team supported her to access food banks, emergency gas and electric grants and the baby bank. They also provided counselling and mediation support, so she was able to begin rebuilding relationships with her family and move towards independence.

These are but a few of the transformations the Umbrella service has seen in the lives of young families in Norfolk.

ymca ymcas [SQUARE] HW

This award recognises a YMCA that has delivered an innovative and inspiring Health & Wellbeing project that has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and/or the wider community.

What is The Professional Therapeutic Pathway?

The Professional Therapeutic Pathway (PTP) is a waitlist initiative that connects young people across Norfolk who are currently awaiting mental health support, with vetted, licensed therapists who can begin providing support imminently.

Since commencing in July 2023; PTP has received 310 requests for support, with the vast majority being successfully allocated to therapists. Many young people the project supports have previously been on a waitlist for two years prior to a referral to PTP, yet through this intervention have waited on average only two months from referral to their first therapeutic appointment. Some young people have been able to have their first appointment within one week of their referral.

The PTP project is currently working with 40 unique therapists and organisations across the county offering in person and online sessions, spanning a wide range of therapy types including art, music, dance/movement, play, talking, occupational and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. PTP meets young people where they are, with a diverse range of options, ensuring they feel heard and validated throughout the therapeutic process.

An example of this is a Young Person (YP) who felt unable to leave their family home and had limited verbal communication. The therapist held the first session on the YP’s doorstep and engaged in creating art with them. Once they’d established trust and boundaries, they were able to conduct a later appointment outdoors at a local beach – a huge milestone. In later sessions, the YP felt able to open up about their past trauma and made huge improvements.

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This award recognises a YMCA that has delivered an innovative and inspiring Training & Education project that has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and/or the wider community.

What is the E-Learning Service?

The E-Learning Service (ELS) is a unique online-based education service that provides bespoke provision for individual students based on their learning needs, ability levels and school course. It is primarily targeted to students who are unable to access mainstream education due to medical needs and mental health challenges, special educational needs and disabilities, or other barriers in accessing mainstream education.

Since 2003, ELS has provided online education to several thousands of pupils; most of whom have reintegrated back into school or continued with their exams, including 312 students in the last year alone. All lessons are delivered by qualified teachers who are specialists in their subjects. Lessons can be completed at any time of the day or week which is particularly valuable for those with SEMH, ME and ASD or students with anxiety. ELS has also been used successfully for groups of students working alongside one another in school and in inclusion units.

In addition to three one-hour lessons each week, students have access to a time-tabled one-hour weekly live chat tutorial in each of their subjects; this gives them an opportunity to instant message their subject teacher to get direct help with any work issues.

A parent of an ELS student said, “The level of service and support is outstanding to both student and parent, going above and beyond for the benefit of the student.” ELS has been a transformational service for thousands of young people, providing a unique and vital alternative provision for education.

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Thanks Stephen
“You’ve been incredibly adept at dealing with my council issues, and even managed to get me photographic ID which we didn’t think was possible.”

Thanks Jo
“You have been so much more help than you’ll ever know. You are fantastic at your job and I can’t praise you enough. You have been our rock and a part of the family.”

Thanks Sharon
“You have been my biggest supporter and made me realise I’m not alone.”

Thanks Franky
“You have taught me how to properly clean and maintain a home, and she have supported me with my emotions.”