transforming young lives annual review 2013 - 2014 · 02 // ymca annual review 2013-2014 welcome...

Transforming Young Lives

Annual Review 2013 - 2014

02 // YMCA Annual Review 2013-2014

Welcome

Welcome to this year’s Annual Report, which shows another year of dedication to enabling young people to develop in body, mind and spirit.It is tough to be a young person in Norfolk today, but the YMCA, as it has for over 150 years, is committed to giving all young people, no matter their start in life, opportunities to fulfil their huge potential.

This year, our development efforts have been focused on programmes that help equip young people for the world of work, so they can break the cycle of homelessness for good. Engagement in volunteering, education and training, including life skills has helped many into a job, but crucially, with the skills to sustain it. This has involved finding opportunities for young people to work in our own services too, as volunteers and apprentices.

The pages that follow are evidence of all that young people have achieved, and I hope they will move you to engage with us as we seek to do more to make a difference this next year. I would love to chat with you if that is the case.

Tim Sweeting Chief Executive

This year has again been a very challenging one with change and restructuring of the leadership team to best focus our energy on developing our young people and ensuring the continuance and growth of the organisation.We have a united and committed team with a passion for impacting Norfolk’s young people in line with our role as an inclusive Christian organisation.

The highlight of this year for me was the visit of HRH Princess Anne for the official opening of MyPlace. She particularly mentioned to me, as I had the honour of accompanying her around the building that she admired the non-judgmental Christian work we were doing with young people.

As always I remain proud to be Chairman of YMCA Norfolk and the work we do right across the county from King’s Lynn in the west to Great Yarmouth in the east as part of the wider national and international movement of YMCAs throughout the world.

Richard Pennington Chairman YMCA Norfolk

Who we are

We are a local charity supporting vulnerable homeless and disadvantaged young people enabling them to reach their full potential. We are part of the world’s oldest and largest youth federation, reaching over 45 million members in 119 countries. We are affiliated to YMCA England who support and represent the 114 YMCAs in England. Like all YMCAs we are run independently, allowing us to tailor our work to the needs of local communities.

Every night across Norfolk we provide accommodation and support for over 260 vulnerable young people who would otherwise be without a safe home. Fortunately for lots of young people home is a happy place. However for many young people we meet home can be a tough place, a place of conflict, overcrowding or neglect. We work with young people who find themselves in crisis and support them to learn the skills necessary to live independently.

Everything we do is focused on helping vulnerable and disadvantaged young people towards a better future. We recognise that young people often have complex needs and provide a range of support and advice, training and education, health and well-being opportunities and help for families to enable them to develop in body, mind and spirit.

“The YMCA has given me more confidence, independence and a new social life. I am really lucky to have had the help and support from the YMCA and I am thankful to the whole team.” Ellie

I’m a frequent visitor to schools, not least because we have 115 Church Schools in the Diocese of Norwich. Children will often surprise you. A while ago one head teacher told me that all the children were asked to write about my visit. One 8 year old boy began “Bishop Graham visited us yesterday. He is very old.”

Perhaps it was this which subconsciously persuaded me to prove my youth by doing a skydive (in aid of The Matthew Project celebrating its thirtieth anniversary – it’s a privilege to be the patron of so many excellent Christian agencies in our county). I called it a leap of faith. So it was. The door of the aeroplane opened when we were at 10,000 feet. I shuffled forward and as my legs dangled over the side before dropping out I remembered that I was scared of heights! There was no going back. Fortunately it was a tandem skydive. I was attached to Andy who was highly experienced. I relied on him to pull the rip cord after 30 seconds or so of freefall. I realised I was trusting him with my life. And I’d only just met him. I didn’t ask to see his qualifications or certificates. I trusted him. I took a risk and placed my trust entirely in someone else.

YMCA Norfolk is an organisation in which many young people who have taken risks in their lives which have sometimes gone wrong learn to trust people again. There are lots of risks in life. It’s a risk to take that new job. It’s a risk to move house. It’s a risk to get married. All sorts of things we do are risky. But if we learn that many people in our world are trustworthy and that we can place our trust in them, then we can grow as human beings, and begin to take risks again.

YMCA Norfolk is a trustworthy organisation. Many young people do trust the work of the YMCA with their lives. They find their lives re-fashioned and re-made. YMCA Norfolk is about leaps of faith - faith in young people and their potential, faith that helping them is worthwhile and faith in God too, whose love can be trusted.

There is a wonderful story to be told in these pages. May God bless the work of YMCA Norfolk.

The Rt Revd Graham JamesBishop of Norwich


Welcome from Chair, Council of Patrons

Contents

What we do 06Kiaya’s Story 08Shaun’s story 10Accommodation 12Gemma’s Story 14Support & Advice 16Sarah’s Story 18Training & Education 20Rob’s story 22Health & Well-being 24Mary’s story 26Family Work 28Highlights 30The year in numbers 31Join us in making an impact 32

The Bishop of NorwichThe Rt Revd Graham James

YMCA Annual Review 2013-2014 // 07 06 // YMCA Annual Review 2013-2014

What we do

We house vulnerable young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Last year we housed and supported 623 young people in our 262 units of accommodation.

For more information on any of our youth development projects please contact:Amanda Bayfield, Youth & Community Manager, 01493 854162, [email protected]

We transform the lives of disadvantaged young people so they have a brighter future.

MYPLACE, NORWICH

Here young people move towards independent living and employability.

SUPPORTED LODGINGS, COUNTYWIDE

Young people move towards independent living in a safe and supporting home environment.

THROCKMORTON & BARNARDS YARD, NORWICH

Young people are supported towards independent living, particularly managing finances and employability.

GAYWOOD & WOOLSTENCROFT, KINGS LYNN

Young people live as part of a small community whilst developing independence and employability skills.

CENTRAL, NORWICH

Here young people are assessed and develop a tailored plan to progress towards independent living.

NIGHTSTOP, COUNTYWIDE

Emergency short-term accommodation in the homes of trained and supported volunteers.

HALL QUAY & SEACROFT, GREAT YARMOUTH

Young people live as part of a small community whilst developing independence and employability skills.

UMBRELLA HOUSING PROJECT, NORWICH

Housing and support for single parents and children.

40

60

30

21

36

5

34

36A new five-year project funded by the Big Lottery Fund to support homeless young people to become ready for independent living and helping to break the cycle of homelessness.

Supporting children, young people and families to help them to overcome challenges and prevent family breakdown.

Increasing the capacity of youth services within Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

Recruiting young people as health ambassadors to promote key messages around physical health, sexual health and mental health to their peers.

A training and skills social enterprise providing young people with real life work experience and links into employment. Open 8am - 5.30pm, Monday - Saturday. Opposite Norwich Bus Station.

Projects and support to encourage young people to make lifestyle choices that improve their health and well-being.

Supporting and empowering young people to have a voice within their community.

For more information on any of our supported accommodation services please contact: Abigail Canham, Head of Housing, 07436 107659, [email protected]

LIFE READY, GT YARMOUTH

STEPPING STONES, NORWICH

FAMILY SUPPORT WORK, COUNTYWIDE

HEALTH & WELL-BEING, COUNTYWIDE

YOUTH & COMMUNITY WORK, GT YARMOUTH

YOUNG HEALTH CHAMPIONS, BROADLAND

YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD, BROADLAND

Projects and activities that ‘add value’ to our contracts and grants and provide opportunities to transform young lives.

ADDED VALUE, COUNTYWIDE

Kiaya’s story

Kiaya came to YMCA Norfolk when she was asked to leave home due to her alcohol addiction. She is now sober and has been enjoying work experience in business administration.

“I moved into YMCA Central in 2012 when me and my mum were not seeing eye-to-eye and she said we could no longer live together. This was mainly to do with my behaviour and the start of my alcohol addiction. I sofa surfed for a couple of weeks until a friend of mine brought me to the YMCA.

I was at Central for five months when I decided to go and live with my dad in Borehamwood, just outside of North London. Things were going good; I gained some work experience as a Business Administrator. I almost had

my hands on an apprenticeship doing Child Care but I messed it all up when I turned to a bottle of vodka and made some silly mistakes which caused my dad to chuck me out. I was soon on the train back to Norwich.

When I got back I stayed with my mum for a couple of weeks, but because of our past and because at the time my mum was in a relationship with a guy who had three children there was not room and I could not stay there. So it was sofa surfing again but this time for eight months.

I moved back into Central in June 2013. Since then the YMCA has helped me get clean of my alcohol, and cannabis use. Staff helped me to get into work experience in business administration, and helped me budget my money.

I am now in credit with my rent and involved with all the right support networks I need. I have gained some work experience through Stepping Stones Café in business administration. I hope to move to YMCA MyPlace soon where I will learn how to manage a tenancy ready for living on my own.”

“ The YMCA has helped me get clean of my alcohol, and cannabis use. Staff helped me to get into work experience in business administration, and helped me budget my money”


Shaun’s story

Shaun had been living independently but after being made redundant he found himself struggling to pay his bills and abandoned his accommodation. Since moving into the YMCA he has joined Life Ready and taken part in the tenancy awareness course to learn about how to manage a tenancy.


Shaun came to the YMCA in December 2013. He had been living independently in Exeter but was made redundant and was unable to pay his bills. He didn’t know what to do or who to turn to, so he left the property without telling his landlord, and moved back to Great Yarmouth where his family live. He was able to stay with a friend for a few days, but couldn’t find a permanent place to live so a friend told him about YMCA Norfolk.

Shaun had engaged with the Life Ready project and the team are supporting him to get back into work by helping him to access training to improve his chances.

His Life Ready worker, Joe, also encouraged him to attend the tenancy awareness course, a six week course which teaches young people about managing their own tenancy and aims to prevent them becoming homeless again. The course covers a range of topics from how to choose a suitable property to learning about tenants’ and landlord’s responsibilities.

Shaun completed the tenancy course and was able to relate a lot of what he learned to his current tenancy, as well as realising some of the mistakes he made when he lived in Exeter. “Normally in groups like that it’s all serious, but in tenancy

“ Normally in groups like that it’s all serious, but in tenancy awareness we have fun and we’re still learning”

awareness we have fun and we’re still learning” Shaun explains. “When I first heard about it, I wasn’t really looking forward to it, but it was actually really enjoyable and I would recommend it to everyone. Most of the Life Ready activities are like that, like the GOYA sports project, you can have a laugh so long as you don’t go over the line.”

“The YMCA has made a big difference to me, it’s made me grow up and appreciate that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it instead of trying to do everything on your own,” he says, showing how his attitude has changed since he first walked through the door last year.

YMCA Annual Review 2013-2014 // 11

We believe that every young person should have a safe place they can call home.

In the past year we have seen an increase in adversity and challenges faced by young people, including exploitation and domestic violence.

By delivering high quality, safe and supportive services, we remain committed to ensuring the safety of all young people in our care and seek to empower them to make informed and safer choices for themselves. To respond to the needs of young people we have made changes to

Our Supported Lodgings and Nightstop schemes place young people with a host family who provide support in a nurturing environment—something they might never have had.

Nightstop provides emergency accommodation in the homes of trained, volunteer ‘hosts’. Last yea,r Nightstop provided 317 nights of safety to young people in crisis.

Accommodation “Norfolk County Council really values the excellent and often life-changing opportunities created for young people across the county by organisations like the YMCA with their proven track record of successfully working around housing and independent living, especially for our most vulnerable young people. I am particularly delighted to see that the YMCA support the councils priority and mine in the use of restorative approach by giving young people the chance to understand how their actions and behaviour affect others. A restorative approach is a proven factor for increasing victim satisfaction and - empowering victims by putting them at the heart of society’s response to crime.”

Brian John Hannah, Chairman of Norfolk County Council

A safe place to stay

our safeguarding procedures and expanded our provision.

We now have a team of ten designated Safeguarding Officers providing 24/7 countywide coverage. Each of these Safeguarding Officers has been trained with the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board. In addition we have a team of Wellbeing Officers who provide telephone support to young people as well as our Supported Lodging providers and Nightstop Hosts.

A heart for young people

In Supported Lodgings a young person can stay with their lodging provider for a couple of weeks, a couple of months or longer.

We provide training and support for host families as well as ongoing support and guidance for young people to help them move towards independent living. This includes mediation with their families, developing life skills and accessing education and employment.


148 safeguarding concerns

managed in 6 months

182 young people supported in the homes of over 60 Nightstop hosts & Supported Lodging providers.

Gemma’s story

Gemma had a happy family life until things turned upside down and she became homeless at 16. After 18 months living in Supported Lodgings she’s looking forward to starting university.

“Until I was 16, my life was pretty ordinary – two married parents, two older siblings and I’d lived in the same house for about fourteen years. But things turned completely upside-down in a few months. My family unit was crushed, I was raped and I was eventually made homeless by my Dad.

The City Council placed me with YMCA Supported Lodgings scheme and from then, everything got better. I had an assessment, which was supportive, helpful and calming – Emmanuel and Graham were really nice. They found me a lodging opportunity with Elaine really close to my sixth form. I was so anxious and nervous – it was a huge step but the YMCA supported me with every step. I met Elaine and viewed the accommodation on a Thursday and I was moving my stuff in on the Monday. It was a really quick process but I was

prepared for it, I was never on my own – I had a lot of help.

I’ve been living with Elaine for almost 18 months now and it’s been a real highlight of my life. I’ve met some amazing people, had the best support, always had someone there for me and I’m finally back on my feet. After a mental breakdown, an overdose and years of self-harming, I struggled to see life positively and had issues with trusting people but YMCA played a huge part in getting me back on my feet. And now I’m sorted, they’re still here – helping me with finance, and any problems I have!

I definitely have a lot to thank them for, they have done a lot for me and I’m very grateful. After my eventful time, I’m now looking forward to going to university.”

“I’ve met some amazing people, had the best support, always had someone there for me and I’m finally back on my feet”


At YMCA Norfolk we respect everyone who comes to us for help and support – and many are working toward a brighter future. So while their stories are true, some young people’s names and images have been changed to protect their privacy. Thank you for understanding.

We believe that every young person should have someone they can trust.

Young people’s involvement is an integral part of our ethos and mission. We ensure they are at the centre of what we do and that they play a vital role in the planning and delivery of our services.

Through our assessment and support mechanisms we respect young people’s involvement in important decisions about their own lives and empower them to make positive choices.

We have sought to expand our range of opportunities that meaningfully

Support & Advice

Valuing Young People

involve young people in our services, including; client scrutiny focus groups, annual surveys and our Engagement Committee. By developing a culture of listening to young people, and having their involvement in co-producing services, we can be confident that the support we provide and the way it is provided, is both relevant and useful.

Young people have also developed work place skills and their self-esteem through participation in a range of services including interviews and volunteering.

This year we launched a new Youth and Community Project to increase the capacity of youth services within Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

We support adults (paid and voluntary) who are working with young people to enable them to feel confident in the work they do, especially when tackling challenging issues such as; teenage pregnancy,

A Strong Support System

obesity, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse.

We have supported 16 groups with workshops and training, one-to-one support, networking meetings and professional development schemes to share good practice and develop links locally to ensure a range of high quality support is available to young people. “Many young people

trust the work of the YMCA with their lives. They find their lives re-fashioned and re-made” The Rt Revd Graham James, Bishop of Norwich


Secured funding for 8 volunteers to study a Level 2 Award in Youth Work.

58 young people involved

in recruitment and internal scrutiny client

focus groups.

Sarah did not have an easy upbringing; her mum was unable to cope looking after her and at 15 she was moved into foster care.

After a few turbulent years in foster care Sarah was referred to YMCA Norfolk and moved into Throckmorton Yard. Although she was excited, she admits it was not always easy. “It was new to me. I had never lived alone before. I was also scared to talk to anyone about my problems at first because I felt that other people from my past had not always helped me the way they said they would, which left me feeling very alone at times.”

To help her with this, James, her support worker, referred her to the YMCA counselling service. “I was able to talk to my counsellor and my support worker about any issue. Everyone I met was great at explaining exactly how they could help. I felt they were very good at not just doing things for me, but helping me to do things myself and guiding me in the right direction.”

Sarah thinks the biggest difference the YMCA has made is supporting her to become more mature and helping her on the road to independence by developing her life skills including budgeting and cooking.

Sarah recently found out that she is expecting a baby. She has since received a lot of intensive support to prepare her for the future. She recognises that she has a very busy time ahead of her but is very interested in volunteering with the YMCA in the future.

“The best part of my experience at the YMCA was being able to communicate with staff who I knew were on my side and helping to get me where I wanted to be. They let me be myself and allowed me to find my own identity so I am comfortable about who I am and where I am going. I have really enjoyed my time here and was actually quite sad to leave. It felt like home for the first time in a long time and it was nice to have stability in my life as I had never experienced that before.”

Sarah’s story

Sarah had an unsettled life before she came to YMCA Norfolk. After learning to accept help and support to develop her independent living skills she’s ready to make her own home.


“ The best part of my experience at the YMCA was being able to communicate with staff who I knew were on my side and helping to get me where I wanted to be”

Training & Education

We believe that every young person should be able to fulfil their potential.

Stepping Stones Café doesn’t just sell great food and drinks, it creates opportunities for young people in our supported housing services.

Many of these young people have often experienced disrupted education which has affected their ability to move forward in their career pathways. Stepping Stones Café provides a supportive environment for young people to develop their skills and confidence and gain valuable work experience.

Stepping Stones to Independence

Since opening we have helped to transform the lives of 17 vulnerable young people who have learnt industry skills and gained qualifications in our busy social enterprise.

This year we have expanded our offer to include apprenticeships in Stepping Stones Café. We are offering an accredited NVQ for 2 young people to support them to learn all the essentials to launch a career in the industry!

Life Ready is a five-year project supporting homeless young people towards independent living and help break the cycle of homelessness in Great Yarmouth.

Funded by the Big Lottery, Life Ready provides young people with an opportunity to receive tailored support to help recognise and address the range of complex issues that they face alongside being homeless. Life Ready prepares young people for independent

Becoming Life Ready

living by developing all the skills required to be fully independent. Young people receive targeted support and life coaching and develop their knowledge and skills through short courses including; Fitness and sports, Functional Skills, Joy of Food, Money Skills, Tenancy Awareness and Duke of Edinburgh.

“I am very impressed by the excellent work carried out to help young people in our community not only in Great Yarmouth but across the whole county of Norfolk. It is easy to lose one’s way and the support and advice that the YMCA gives is vital in helping those same people find their feet again and take their place in our community.”Henry Cator, OBE, DLHigh Steward of Great Yarmouth


40 young people engaged with Life Ready and accessing short courses

Our links with local businesses has led

to 6 young people gaining employment in areas of

hospitality, catering and customer

service.

YMCA Norfolk has proved a very real stepping stone for homeless teenager Rob Spooner, putting him on the path to a secure future with the prospect of a career in catering and the chance to get some advice from a Princess along the way.

As a youngster, Rob was fostered and then adopted, but despite best efforts, home life did not really work out for Rob who, at the age of 17, left home in Dereham and headed for the bright lights of Norwich. He contacted the YMCA who provided supported lodgings for five months and then a flat at MyPlace.

“I really enjoy living there, and I have come on in leaps and bounds in my self

and my confidence, but now I want to move on to my own accommodation,” said Rob.”

When the opportunity came to be a volunteer chef at YMCA Norfolk’s Stepping Stones Café, Rob jumped at the chance. “I prep food, cook to order, feed the YMCA residents, tidy up, serve customers, everything that you do in a normal working kitchen really,” said Rob.

“I love it there. Six months ago I didn’t have a clue about cooking and was not even interested. It was not in my head that I could do it. Now I have got a good sense of direction of where I want to go in the future – that I can do it if I put my mind and effort into it. It is a good

Rob’s story

Rob was 17 when he found himself with nowhere to live and unsure of what the future would hold. Following a training opportunity in YMCA Norfolk’s Stepping Stones Café he has realised a hidden passion and gained the skills and confidence to follow a new career path.

feeling knowing what I want to do.”

Rob has started a year long apprenticeship at Stepping Stones to gain an NVQ in Catering in partnership with City College. Then he would love to get a job in a commercial kitchen somewhere.

During his time with the YMCA Rob even met Princess Anne, during a recent Royal visit to MyPlace.“It was our job to do the catering, little finger foods,” said Rob. “I got to sit and talk with Princess Anne for a little while. She was a lovely woman and asked me what I did. She told me to keep on doing it and keep focused. It was really nice having someone like her telling me to keep focused.”

“Now I have got a good sense of direction of where I want to go in the future – that I can do it if I put my mind and effort into it. It is a good feeling knowing what I want to do”


Health & Well-being

We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of physical exercise, from improved health to better life chances.

Young Health Champions are people aged 15-24 who are trained to provide their peers with important information about health, and support them in making lifestyle changes.

Through workshops, presentations and group lessons, Young Health

Young Health Champions

Champions help to educate their peers about key issues affecting their health, including sexual health, physical health and mental health.

Their work is focused on reducing health inequalities among young people and ensuring they are informed on health

services available and are proactive in developing healthy lifestyles.

Young Health Champions also act as ‘young consultants’ to local health services and commissioning bodies, to ensure young people’s voices are heard and that services are meeting their needs.

We received funding from the Broads Authority to deliver an innovative project that connects vulnerable, homeless young people to the outstanding natural beauty of the Broads.

Broadening Horizons

Through an eight-week course of water-based physical activity young people have realised how the Broads can be accessed and enjoyed while improving their physical and mental health.

Participants also make a contribution to the community through weekly conservation work which has developed their confidence and understanding of looking after the unique environment of the Broads.

Through the Broadland Youth Advisory Board we have continued to engage with organisations and groups that support young people. This has included training and development for youth workers and volunteers and facilitating the launch of ten new groups to support young people.

Funded through Norfolk County Council, the Youth Advisory Board has

Healthy Communities

helped support 18 youth organisation to start new projects, ranging from drop-in cafés to, community fun days, targeting support to young people with disabilities and those who are NEET.

These projects have positively impacted young people, developing their confidence and skills and have had a positive impact on the communities in which they live with

reduced anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

We have trained and supported fifteen young commissioners who act as our eyes and ears on the ground, helping us to understand what issues are affecting young people locally and advise what support and opportunities will enable young people to fulfil their potential.

“The YMCA made me a much more confident and outgoing person. Taking part in thing like the Broads Project has furthered my knowledge into conservation and helped me to access a course at Easton”Simon

24 // YMCA Annual Review 2013-2014 YMCA Annual Review 2013-2014 // 25

Mary’s story

Mary was abandoned by her mother, before being given a home and help towards a brighter future. Now she’s taken on the challenge of a lifetime to raise money to help other young people who find themselves homeless.


At the age of just 12, Mary faced a situation that no child she ever have to face: “One Sunday morning I woke up at home with my brother and two sisters and my mum had just disappeared,” she said. “We were all separated and I ended up in care, which was quite hard for me.

“After 18 months in care I returned to live with my mother but it happened again when she left me to go to live with her partner and this time I was completely on my own. I was 16 and just about to start my GCSEs.

“The YMCA took me on for five nights under the emergency NightStop scheme in Norwich. The woman I stayed with, Annie, is absolutely lovely and I got on really well with her and her two daughters. Annie said she would like me to stay on and changed to the YMCA’s Supported Lodgings scheme. I have now been with Annie for five months and I can now live here

for up to two years. I feel like I can now be a ‘normal’ 17-year-old and that I finally belong somewhere.”

While with the YMCA, Mary has completed a Ready to Employability course, and is about to start a Phoenix Plus course, including retaking some GCSEs plus doing some new ones.

“I want to go on to do A Levels and then go to university to study law,” said Mary. “I have seen a lot of things on the other side of the law and I am just so interested in it as well.”

Being in Supported Lodgings has also helped Mary to acquire some life skills such as cooking and cleaning. “I do now feel that I could live independently and that is down to the YMCA and Annie,” she said.

Mary has also been to the dentist for the first time in her life and is now able to use buses alone. “When I first came to

the YMCA I suffered from high anxiety and depression,” she said. “Now I can travel on buses alone, which may sound small but for me was a very big thing and I had never been able to before. I got a panic attack just standing at the bus stop. I feel a lot more positive and don’t feel anxious at all.”

Mary’s determination has impressed her YMCA support worker Denise Hunter too: “Mary told me that if she can jump out of a plane then she feels that she can take on anything in life and know that she can succeed,” said Denise.

Mary feels that she now has a future to look forward to: “Throughout my life I have never had control and it is a big thing for me. At the minute I feel I am starting to gain control and I think it is something that everyone needs. I think the skydive made me more confident as well and allowing me to realise that if I can do that there is not a lot else that I cannot do.”

“Throughout my life I have never had control and it is a big thing for me. At the minute I feel I am starting to gain control and I think it is something that everyone needs”

Family Work

We believe that every family should have the support they need to develop and lead more fulfilling lives.

We work with young people and families to help them to overcome challenges and deal more effectively with the issues they face.

We work across three schools to identify and address family’s needs and provide a range of information, advice and guidance to help them overcome difficult situations. This includes issues around school attendance, single parents, health

Family Matters

problems, financial difficulties, housing and behavioural issues.

We support young people and their families in one-to-one meetings, assemblies, parent groups, multi-agency meetings and school events.

By engaging with families we can identify challenges and prevent damage to children and family breakdown

“The YMCA does tremendous work providing young people with safe places to live and a

launch pad for the future. Thank you for all you do.”

Lady Philippa Dannatt, High Sheriff of Norfolk

We continue to provide housing for single parent families with young children with housing related support delivered by Orwell Housing. As partners we held our first family day which brought tenants together with their children. It was a great afternoon of fun which we will building on with future activities specifically aimed at families. Engaging with our tenants

Umbrella

will be key to improving our Landlord service over the next year.

We have started work on replacing some of the accommodation units within the service to provide something more appropriate for our families. This is a long term project that will ensure provision of high quality accommodation for years to come.


Last year we had 658 contacts with parents supporting 27 families.

Highlights The Year in Numbers

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Young people and staff put on a Christmas Spectacular telling the Christmas story through poems, percussion pieces, rap and hymns.

A fiery display was created at Stepping Stones Café as part of the Dragon Festival.

We were proud to be the successful winners of the dragon themed menu competition.

Royal seal of approval for YMCA Norfolk’s MyPlace. HRH Princess Anne is shown around MyPlace by young people.

Sleeping rough so others don’t have to. Businesses and Supporters donned their thermals

to raise £6,500 taking part in Sleep Easy. Sleep Easy 2015 will be on 7th March to take part visit

www.ymcanorfolk.org/sleepeasy

Launching Life Ready, a new £1m project funded by the Big Lottery. Helping young people in Great Yarmouth to learn the skills necessary to live independently and fulfil their potential.

200 young people taking positive steps towards independent living.

These summarised financial statements are extracted from the statutory financial statements for the financial year ended 30th March 2014 which have been audited by Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants, who gave an unqualified report.

The auditors have confirmed to the Directors that the summarised financial statements are consistent with the statutory financial statements for the year ended 30th March 2014.

The annual accounts and Directors’ report were approved by the Directors and signed on their behalf on 22nd September 2014. They have been submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency, Charity Commission and the Registrar of Companies.

To view the full Financial Statements and the auditor’s report on those accounts please contact Diane Page, Head of Finance on 01603 621263 or [email protected]

Housing/ Lettings - Rent from residents in supported accommodation, paid mostly with housing benefit.

Supporting People - Grants allocated by Local Authorities to provide a safe home and support towards independent living.

Catering - Stepping Stones Café provides a range of services to our residents and the public in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Youth Development - Grants to deliver services and project supporting children, young people and families.

Health & Well-being - Bookings and activities at our Trowse sports facilities

Other - Fundraising, governance and administration (including; IT, Finances, QA and HR)

Income Expenditure

▼ Housing / Lettings 55% 63%▼ Supporting People 16% 19%▼ Catering 4% 6%▼ Youth Development 5% 6%▼ Trowse Sports Hall 1% 2%▼ Other 19% 4%

100% 100%

How we spent it

“ I told the Princess about my college child care training and about my work in a canteen and how the YMCA has supported me. It was a memorable occasion and one that I am sure I will be telling my children about in years to come” Paige

Expenditure

63%

19% 6% 6%

2%4%

Join us in making an impact

SUPPORT & ADVICE ACCOMMODATION HEALTH & WELLBEING TRAINING & EDUCATIONFAMILY WORK

YMCA enables people to develop their full potential in mind,body and spirit. Inspired by, and faithful to, our Christian values,we create supportive, inclusive and energising communities,where young people can truly belong, contribute and thrive.

We could not achieve so much without our fantastic supporters so we say a huge thank you to everyone involved in YMCA Norfolk; our staff and volunteers, our Board of Trustees, our Patrons, local authority funders and supporters, our partners and stakeholders. We also wish to thank the amazing young people who we have the privilege of supporting and who we have celebrated throughout this report.

Donate to support our workYour donation - whatever its size - will have a positive impact on helping young people fulfil their potential.

Take on a challengeAnd raise money for YMCA Norfolk. Get involved in our organised events or plan your own. There’s lots of ways you can help raise fund for our vital work.

Do some volunteeringWe work with amazing people and have opportunities for local people to volunteer their time to help.

Our Vision To be an inclusive organisation, transforming communities across Norfolk so that young people can truly belong, contribute and thrive.

Our Mission To transform young lives.

Our ValuesHope-filled: positive about people and releasing their futuresInspiring: a catalyst for transformationEmpowering: acting as a launch pad

Find out more www.ymcanorfolk.org Email: [email protected]: 01603 621263

Registered Charity No. 801606Registered in England No. 2067523HCA Registration No. H3868

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/ymcanorfolk

Follow us on Twitter @YMCANorfolk

transforming young lives annual review 2013 - 2014 · 02 // ymca annual review 2013-2014 welcome...

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