Greater Resilience for Vulnerable Girls
The Y’s Girls project addresses key issues faced by vulnerable young females aged 9 to 14 years of age. Volunteer mentors are identified from the local community and paired with young girls in need of a positive relationship with an adult.
Often the mentors have experienced similar issues to the girls they are developing a relationship with. For example; vulnerability to developing issues with emotional wellbeing, experience of disengagement at school, conflict in the home, engagement in antisocial behaviour or a lack of a positive adult role model.
With mentors’ support, the young people have participated in new activities such as; ice skating, swimming, gym sessions, yoga, trampolining, drawing, crafting, visiting museums and galleries and getting out and about in their local area to meet new people and experience new things.
During 2021-22 we made 21 successful matches between young girls and mentors, which led to 322 hours of interactions in just 6 months. All have made measurable success in their journey towards achieving their goals and the connections that have developed between the young girls and their wider families have been hugely encouraging.
Our volunteer mentors have also reported feeling more valued, more connected to their local community and have developed their skills and employability through their experiences in the project.
“Our young people have reported feeling more confident, more connected within their communities, with increased resilience and better equipped to deal with the challenges that life can bring”
If you’re interested in volunteering with YMCA please get in contact today.
Read more of our case studies:
Halloween in Teesdale
Our community team successfully delivered the October half-term plan to our families across Teesdale without a hitch. The staff, volunteers, children and parents pulled together and created 3 spookily large puppets and some scarily good pumpkins, which were then...
Jarrow Animates LGBTQ+ Issues
Our popular Central Jarrow Detached Youth Project was successful in securing funds from the Violence Reduction Unit in a bid to create a short animated video on a subject they feel very passionate about…LGBTQ+. Many of the youth group’s participants identify as part...
The Start of Our Free Winter Community Meals
Last Wednesday saw the success of our first Winter Community Meal of the year, with over 19 people in attendance enjoying a big bowl of chilli, followed by cake and custard. The meal was kindly sponsored by Jacqui, owner of Children of the Revolution in Tynemouth who...
YWCA-YMCA Week of Prayer 2022
The 13 - 19th November is the World YWCA and World YMCA Week of Prayer. These sibling organisations, among other things, organise opportunities to unite their local associations around the world on important issues. In light of this week, Ian Pearson, shares a story...
YMCA Announces New Outdoor Space For Residents
YMCA recently celebrated the opening of a redeveloped outdoor space for the young people who live under our roof in North Shields. What was previously an unused and unloved space has undergone a major transformation and is now a vibrant and welcoming outdoor area for...