Over time, Grace would take all the anguish from her past and turn that negativity into something incredibly positive.
During the past 6 years that Grace has attended the Youth Project, her contributions have been the driving force behind a number of ventures within her local community.
One of her first ideas was to organise coffee and bingo mornings with the goal of bringing local people together while raising funds for St Vincent de Paul in Jarrow. This was a huge success, attracting over 70 people per session.
More recently Grace was inspired to begin campaigning for the regeneration of a local cemetery after being saddened by poorly kept grounds and overgrowing graves. She began writing funding bids and spoke passionately with the local council which resulted in a group of volunteers coming together every week and cleaning up the cemetery.
Having regular access to youth and play groups such as YMCA’s Youth project in partnership with Central Jarrow Big Local has helped shape Grace as a person, and from that, Grace is helping shape her local community for the better. Having a safe environment for young people to thrive in, that falls outside of everyday home and school life, is crucial. It allows them to grow as individuals and make their own choices which can result in a better, kinder world for all of us.
Read more of our case studies:
Housing Case Study: The Journey to Self-Management
Crisis and Instability Liam arrived at YMCA in Summer 2024, having spent the previous year in a hostel after losing his accommodation due to unmanaged mental health struggles. His difficulties were rooted in a severely abusive and traumatic childhood, which continued...
Housing Case Study: Rebuilding A Life After Loss
Trauma, Loss, and Exclusion Sarah arrived at the YMCA in late 2024 after four years of chronic homelessness and sofa surfing. Her instability was driven by a long-term struggle with substance misuse, compounded by a catastrophic life event: she woke up one morning to...
Our Impact: The Journey to Becoming an Awards Finalist
One of our many weekly classes! At YMCA North Tyneside, our core mission is to strengthen people in our local community and create an inclusive environment where everyone can be healthy, happy, and connected. Over the past year, YMCA Gym, a vital Social Enterprise...
A Full Circle Moment: DJ Schak Comes Home to YMCA North Tyneside
The visit was a proud moment for our community, seeing the global star return to the place that first shaped him.. Before heading off to play at the massive Creamfields Festival, DJ Schak, a global name in electronic music, returned to his roots at YMCA North Tyneside...
Our Eid al-Adha Celebrations
Known as the "Festival of the Sacrifice", Eid al-Adha is one of the most significant holidays in Islam and is celebrated by nearly 2 billion people across the world, which is nearly equivalent to 25% of the world's population. At YMCA North Tyneside, we wish to...