The National Council of YMCA's in Wales
Welcome to YMCA Wales
We reach out to young people, families and the community to help people grow in mind, body and spirit.
YMCA Wales is part of the world wide YMCA movement, operating across the globe. As part of that movement we are also affiliated to the European Alliance of YMCA’s (EAY) and the World Alliance of YMCA’s (WAY). We are also part of an informal grouping known as the “4 Nation”; England , Ireland , Scotland and Wales . The YMCA movement in Wales is currently made up of 29 autonomous bodies. These are our members to whom we are accountable. Diversity of member associations is remarkable in many terms such as size of staff team or entirely supported by volunteers, location – both urban and rural, variety of services provided and sources of funding.
The external context of our work is also a changing environment in relation central government and WAG policy priorities, social and economic factors, demographic changes and the needs of young people and the communities in which they live.
In Wales, “Extending Entitlement” and A Framework For Partnership” present those who work with young people both opportunities and challenges to work in partnership to create quality services, which are responsive to expressed needs and where young people can shape and manage provision.
The YMCA actively supports the vision of WAG and the ten basic entitlements for young people: -
- Education, Training and work experience
- Basic Skills
- Opportunities to participate in volunteering and active citizenship
- High quality responsive and accessible services and facilities
- Independent specialist careers advice, guidance and student support counselling services
- Advice on health, housing benefits and other issues in accessible and welcoming settings
- Recreational and social opportunities
- Sporting, artistic, musical and outdoor experiences
- The right to be consulted, to participate in decision making and to be heard on all matters which concern them or have an impact on their lives.
The wider youth policy context in terms of the European Youth Policy and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are critical in terms of our raison d’etre and formation of the values and principles which drive all our work. Young people are increasingly facing greater uncertainty about their role in society and what the future might hold. Economic independence is delayed, adolescence becoming longer and more complex and the cultural pressures generated by the media are immense.
The WAG Plan for Wales recognises the need to build on the existing potential to create a modern Wales in relation to the economy, environment and society alongside a need to improve public services. The general principles of integrated policy development, innovation, openness and accessibility and working in partnership espoused by the Assembly are equally applicable to the YMCA .
Potential new developments
Other areas for potential new developments are in the fields of youth justice, homelessness and community safety. The YMCA is uniquely positioned within local communities and it is our intention to create more proactive community resource facilities. In some rural areas the only facility available to the community is the local YMCA and we need to build capacity in existing locations and consider new locations. We are in discussion with the Probation Service in North Wales , to create a pilot project which will meet the needs of young offenders with housing and employment issues.
http://www.ymca.int
http://www.eay.org
Got a question? our email address is: info@ymcawales.co.uk
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