YMCA Black Country Group

Ever slept in a cardboard box to help raise awareness and funds for those suffering from homelessness?
is back for 2023. Sign up as an individual or a team. One night can make a lifetime of difference: ymcabc.org.uk/sleepeasy

May your heart be lifted in praise this Christmas for the wonderful gift of Jesus and the joy He brings to our lives during both the good and challenging times. Merry Christmas from everyone here at YMCA Black Country Group.

Merry Christmas from everyone at YMCA Black Country Group.
From our YMCA family to yours, we wish you a truly magical, marvellous, and happy holiday season—joy and blessings this Christmas and always.

Local Community Spread Christmas Joy Through Donations

Our latest donation today is from The Lewisham , who have kindly cooked and donated 42 meals for our residents on Christmas Day.

We have been blown away by the generosity of all the local companies and services who have supported us with so many donations over the past couple of weeks. Once again, a massive thank you from all of our staff, volunteers and service users for your kindness - thank you for spreading the Christmas joy around the Black Country.

https://bit.ly/3PMtFeH

Local Community Spread Christmas Joy Through Donations YMCA Black Country Group has been fortunate to have received donations from multiple organisations across the Black Country.

Another thank you this afternoon to Shaw Trust, who are located opposite our City Gateway site, for their donation of mince pies and a turkey crown. The list of thank yous grows longer by the minute!

YMCA Rugeley have received donations this week from several organisations locally including, 17 Breakfasts for the residents on Christmas Day from Travelodge Hotel - Rugeley, gifts and toiletries from Rugeley & District Lions Club and Staffordshire Youth Offending Team , bed linen, towels and tinned good from St. James the Great, Longdon.

Once again, a big thank you for your generosity, it will make a big difference to our residents this Christmas.

Another big thank you to the patients and staff of Bentley Medical Practice, who have kindly donated food and toiletries to residents of our Green Lane project in Walsall.

Don't forget, there's still time to vote for The Glebe Centre in ASDA's Green Token Giving campaign. Keep those votes coming in each week for them to win £500. The voting continues until December so there is still plenty of time

Simply follow the link, enter your email and hit vote: https://www.asda.com/green-tokens/store?store=4229

It's been a week full of gratitude and today is no different. Tipton & Coseley Building Society have donated £510 for our residents at Highland Road, Dudley to use as part of their garden renovations. Thanks once again!

Christmas is typically a time of joy, but for many it can be a difficult time .

If you or someone you know might be struggling over the festive period there are a number of helplines available.

Please share, you never know who might need to support.

Another big Christmas thank you, this time to Diamond Bus Midlands for their food donation to YMCA Western Gateway residents yesterday.

Christmas at The Glebe Centre, Walsall thanks to the kindness of our community.

From all of us at YMCA Black Country Group, we wish a Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating

Every night YMCA provides 8,800 beds for young people who are homeless or in need of support. Sign up to . One night could make a lifetime of difference. ymcabc.org.uk/sleepeasy

🎄 Christmas Opening Hours for YGym Fitness Ymca 🎄

🎄 Christmas opening times 🎄

And a FOURTH thanks of the day.

A very kind, food donation from the nurses at Walsall Manor Hospital to our Green Lane residents.

The Christmas spirit is strong in Black Country.

It's a Friday full of thank yous today!

Well done Daniel and thank you for choosing to support The Glebe Centre, Walsall.

So grateful to all those across the Black Country choosing to support our YMCA projects.

What an absolute star!!!

This incredible young man has raised £200 to donate to the centre and to help support our service users this Christmas.

To raise the money, Daniel, aged 7, ran a tombola at his school's Christmas market as well as gathered donations from family and friends after he had expressed concern for people that have nowhere to live and enjoy Christmas this year. This week Daniel visited the centre with his mum and sister to see what services we provide with his own eyes and to hand deliver his Christmas gift to us.

Daniel left this message for our service users "enjoy your Christmas dinners, I'm so glad that there is somewhere for you to come and feel cared for".

Thankyou so much Daniel, you are an excellent example of such a caring, compassionate and community focused citizen and we are so grateful for all the hard work you put into raising this money for us and our service users.

We wish you the merriest of Christmases and a Happy New Year.

🎁

Another big thank you goes out to Leslie's Care Packages CIC who have helped us out again this year, with a donation of selection boxes and shower gel gift sets to hand out to our residents.

A big thank you to ALBERT JAGGER LTD in Walsall who have kindle donated a defibrillator to our housing project at Green Lane.

Mark Hilton, Group Operations Director and Rachel Holland Campbell, PA to the Board visited yesterday to deliver the defibrillator and stayed for a chat with the team.

“I am feeling much more contended, engaging with new things and people. I like my life… since coming [to The Glebe Centre]. I've had help with my drug and alcohol issues and am waiting for an appointment for bereavement counselling. I am feeling so much better, I am able to be myself and it’s taken a lot of stress (away) from me.”

Read Steven's Story: ymcabc.org.uk/stevens-story/

Thank you to all who joined last night for our Gateway to Christmas celebration, we hope it left you feeling suitably festive!

A big shout out and thanks goes to our staff team who brought it all together.

Tonight is our Gateway to Christmas celebration at YMCA City Gateway, Wolverhampton.
Please join us between 5pm - 7.30pm for Christmas songs, food, celebration and the chance to meet Santa.

Photos from The Glebe Centre, Walsall's post

Wonderful nativity performance from our Carters Green children. Thank you to all who joined us for songs, prayers and celebration today.

A reminder that our Christmas Service takes place today from 2pm at St Andrews Church West Bromwich.

Join us to see our Carters Green Nursery children perform their nativity and enjoy some festive cheer and refreshments.

Photos from Y's Girls's post

Are you who we're looking for?
We're recruiting inspiring people to help us develop the next generation of young minds.
We have a range of educator roles available across our nurseries, located across the Black Country .
To apply visit: ymcabc.org.uk/jobs

YMCA Black Country Group are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Bavington for our next Chief Executive Officer. Steve will start his new role in March 2023; trustees, staff and volunteers look forward to welcoming him back to YMCA.

Read more: https://www.ymcabc.org.uk/new-chief-executive/

Do something incredible to help homeless young people in the Black Country. Sleep rough, so others don't have to.
Sign up for free to take part in the nationwide event ymcabc.org.uk/sleepeasy

Our hopes for a more just, safe, and peaceful society can only be realised when everyone's equal rights are respected and achieved.

Don't forget, there's still time to vote for The Glebe Centre in ASDA's Green Token Giving campaign. Keep those votes coming in each week for them to win £500. The voting continues until December so there is still plenty of time

Simply follow the link, enter your email and hit vote: https://www.asda.com/green-tokens/store?store=4229

This time next week, join us for fun, food and festivities at Gateway to Christmas.

Join us for hot food, a live band and perhaps a visit from Santa...

Wednesday 14th December from 5.00pm - 7.30pm at City Gateway, Wolverhampton

Tonight is our open evening for our new Wednesbury Y-Living project. Join us for a tour and the chance to meet other young people. Y-Living offers affordable housing for young people in employment, renting from a landlord you can trust.

For more information please contact Tracy on [email protected]bc.org.uk or 01902 371 550

Our Christmas Service takes place next Tuesday 13th December at St Andrews Church West Bromwich. Join us to see our Carters Green Nursery Children perform their nativity and enjoy some festive cheer and refreshments.

If you've got any old, good quality, winter clothing that you no longer need, like a coat, hat, scarf or gloves, why not donate it to the Winter Coat Project?

You can do so on weekdays from today (Monday 5 December, 2022) until Friday 16 December at Bingley Strengthening Families Hub, Norfolk Road, Pennfields WV3 0JE. Anyone who needs a pre-loved coat, hat, scarf or pair of gloves is then invited to come along to the same venue on Saturday 17 December to collect theirs.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The Winter Coat Project is about providing practical support for our communities to keep people warm this winter in a dignified and respectful way, and it's also good for the environment as pre-loved clothing gets a new lease of life. They will then be made available to anyone who wants them; it doesn't matter what your circumstances are, warm clothing should be available to all."

Please click https://orlo.uk/Rrblh to read the full story.

POP Walsall will be out in the mobile hub TODAY 2-4pm outside YMCA Small Street Day Nursery. Come along for a warm drink and a chat!

Join us this WEDNESDAY 7TH DECEMBER for our Job Fair at City Gateway, Wolverhampton.

We will be hosting a CV workshop from 10am- 12pm followed by the chance to discuss job opportunities with range of local employers from 12pm - 4pm.

For more information call 01902 371 550 or email [email protected]

Mark's Story

When Mark first approached our Making Connections project in Walsall, he was very low. He hadn’t long lost his companion, was already suffering with depression and sleeping 14 hours a day. Thanks to the support and compassion of the YMCA team, Mark has been able to make positive changes to get his life back on track.

Read Mark's Story: https://bit.ly/3gOkblS