News

Last Friday, a number of YMCA staff grabbed their aprons and took to their kitchens for a group cooking session, courtesy of Ravenous Fox.
Like in many organisations, staff had seen very little of each other throughout the pandemic, particularly in group scenarios, so a good catch up was well overdue.

On the evening of Wednesday 3rd March as part of the YMCA Healthy Habits programme, a group of young people from the YMCA organised and delivered a bingo evening for clients of Age UK.

For the past couple of years, Sainsbury’s at the Broadway have kindly supported YMCA North Tyneside by donating everything from tinned foods to toiletries and many of their staff have even contributed their time to volunteering projects.

At YMCA Gym, the wellness of their members comes first and despite having to close the North Shields based fitness centre, the gym staff have been virtually inviting people into their homes, and giving their time to help locals stay active during lockdown.

Exercise is a brilliant way to counteract the lull of spending a large amount of time indoors, but with gym facilities closed, how can young people be encouraged to keep active during lockdown?

Despite Covid restrictions, YMCA’s Youth, Play and Community team are responding the best way they can and are continuing to reach out to young people in North Tyneside. Right now, they are doing this in a number of ways:

‘The Hatch’ is a website project designed by our own Housing Team that covers a variety of mental health support options for homeless young people whilst upholding social distancing.

Back in August, YMCA England and Wales released Back on Track… a report outlining the effects of lockdown on young people across the nation and how YMCA’s have adapted their services to continue helping young people during the pandemic.

YMCA North Tyneside are launching a website to help support young people. We aim to promote Healthy Habits through our 5 a day initiative, helping young people develop ways of achieving personal goals every day.

There is a little-known link between a Lake District beauty spot and an even less well-known Tyneside benefactor. How this all came about is an extraordinary story, and the result of one man’s vision and generosity.

YMCA North Tyneside’s 5-year Strategic Plan for 2020-25 provides a clear and courageous roadmap that will drive the organisation forward; helping to ensure that our young people reach their full potential and ‘live their best lives’.

The annual Impact Report provides a summary of the amazing work that goes on within the organisation as a whole. In 2019-20 YMCA North Tyneside supported more children and young people than ever before. Both in terms of early years education and through our accommodation and youth outreach work.

The COVID-19 lockdown (March to June 2020) brought additional challenges for everyone. In this article we report on what it was like for two YMCA employees working in our ‘Housing Team’; caring for some of the most vulnerable young people (typically aged 16 to 20 years old) in the borough of North Tyneside.

With charities heavily relying on fundraising events and regular donations, it’s no surprise that COVID 19 has had a huge impact on the number of contributions needed to ensure we have the means to continue the work we do for vulnerable young people.

YMCA North Tyneside is taking the spread of Coronavirus in the UK and the
North East extremely seriously. As always our number one priority remains the
safety and wellbeing of our people, customers and beneficiaries providing a safe
and clean environment for you all to enjoy.