The National Council of YMCA's in Wales
Recent news
YMCA WALES LAUNCH QUALITY STANDARDS PROGRAMME
YMCA Wales are proud to launch the YMCA Wales Quality Standards Programme. The Quality Standards Programme has been through a gruelling period of 18 months piloting and testing in collaboration with YMCA Local Associations and other agiencies, ready for Local Assocaitions use as part of their programmes of continuous improvement.
Special thanks go to Port Talbot, Bridgend, Pontypridd, Mountain Ash and Cardiff YMCAs with particular thanks to Cardiff YMCA Housing Association who have been instrumental in the development of the programme. Also thanks go to the Charity Commission and Wales Quality Centre for their expert assessment and feedback throughout the developement of the programme.
The YMCA Wales Quality Standards Programme is a tool for Improvement. It is designed to help you manage and develop YMCA Facilities and Services. Using the Quality Standards Programme will encourage and assist your YMCA to become a better organization, providing better Facilities and Services for Young People. Notably the Quality Standards Programme has been developed by the YMCA Movement for the YMCA Movement. The YMCA Wales Quality Standards Programme consists of a Self Assessment which should encourage the development of an Improvement Action Plan identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement. This YMCA Wales Quality Standards Programme has one key purpose – To benefit your YMCA Local Association and the Young People that use it.
For further information on the YMCA Wales Quality Standards Programme or for an information pack, please contact Richard Thomas, Developments Officer, YMCA Wales. richard@ymcawales.co.uk
YMCA Wales Community College
The smallest further education provider in Wales recently celebrated a record-breaking Estyn inspection result. YMCA Wales Community College was awarded grade 1 results across all seven key areas in its adult community-based learning inspection – the highest achievement possible.
An Estyn team assessed the college across seven inspection areas including learner support, achievement rates, teaching and assessment. A verdict of ‘good with outstanding features’ was returned in all areas. This result is unprecedented in the adult community-based learning sector in Wales.
The inspection forms part of a six-year (2004-2010) national programme that will scrutinise all post-16 education providers in Wales. The programme aims to raise standards in education and supply learners with more information about the quality of adult community-based learning providers.
4,000 learners attended courses in Wales set up by the college during the 2006-2007 academic year. The college is always interested to explore suggestions for new courses to meet specific local needs – for example, the college recently set up a Chinese-language course on Using ICT and Computer Systems based at Riverside Community Development Centre in Cardiff.
From August 2007 the college will operate as an independent organization affiliated to YMCA Wales. For further information visit the college’s updated website at www.ymca-wales.ac.uk or telephone 029-2075-5444.
Newgale YMCA Outdoor Education Centre
Our new outdoor centre in Pembrokeshire is setting up a high ropes course with generous support from the Dulverton Trust. This new course will provide a special attraction in West Wales. It will complement the outdoor activities packages that Newgale YMCA already offers to a wide range of ages as well as providing an extra challenge for bespoke corporate team-building activities.
For further details about the opening of the high ropes course and the wide range of outdoor activities already on offer at Newgale visit www.newgaleymca.co.uk or telephone 01437-720959.
Revenue Matters – new training programme
YMCA Wales was recently awarded a grant from a new HM Revenue & Customs scheme to run a three-year training programme in Wales. Our Revenue Matters training programme will offer free-access workshops throughout Wales supported by a dedicated e-briefing service.
Annual workshops throughout Wales will train representatives from Third Sector organisations in basic information about HMRC services in order to promote wider access to advice and encourage higher take-up of benefits/ credits by HMRC’s hard-to-reach clients in Wales. Our training programme will also be supported by a dedicated email advice service available to training workshop participants. For further information about the programme for Revenue Matters email aled@ymcawales.co.uk.