YMCA Black Country Group

Happy International Day of Families. The right start in life is crucial for the long-term development of a young person. At YMCA we create a family culture for every young person we serve because we know family is one of life’s strongest pillars.

We're currently recruiting inspiring people to join our nursery team, who know the value of a strong start in those early years. If that sounds like you, please visit ymcabc.org.uk/nurseryjobs to learn more and apply today.

Through our Family and Youth Work, YMCA serves more than 207,000 children, young people, parents and carers to provide the best possible start in life and support into teenage years and beyond.

Just over ONE WEEK to go until our World Culture Day celebrations on 21st May. Come along for food, music and shared stories from the range of cultures in our community.

Thank you to our partners Wolverhampton City Council Harvest Temple Wolverhampton Parent Champions and Hit the Dhol

Our Wren's Nest Navigators team have been busy bees launching new sessions to their community.

Photos from YMCA Pelsall Village Day Nursery's post

Ys Girls Mixer - YMCA Black Country Group

Last week, our Y's Girls Mentors and Mentees got together to meet each other and introduce themselves and the project to new referrals. Two of our mentors put on a demonstration on how to make fragranced body butter. It was a great opportunity to break down barriers and give the participants a chance to discuss their experiences on the project.

Read more here: https://www.ymcabc.org.uk/ys-girls-mixer/

Ys Girls Mixer - YMCA Black Country Group                   Last week young people and mentors attended YMCA City Gateway for monthly mentor/Mentee mixer as part of our Y’s Girls Mentoring programme. Offering both young people and volunteers the opportunity to get to know each other and engage in group activities. The session was...

🎉🎉🙌PLATINUM PARTY PLANNING IS IN FULL SWING AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!! 🙌🎉🎉

This June, for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations, people across the country will be celebrating with street parties bringing together friends, family and neighbours...
...And we don't want it to be any different here at The Glebe Centre. We have an ever growing community of service users and with your help and donations, we hope to throw them their very own party to remember and celebrate the last 70 years!

We are planning lots of fun activities in the lead up to the big day, and then a day to remember with music, queenie quiz, food and games, but we need your help in making sure that these are the best they can be.

We are asking for donations of the following to help make it an extra special day:

-Fabric Pens or Fabric paints
- CLEAN (please please!) White pillow cases OR Red, white and blue Coloured/Patterned squares of fabric for crafting (for making our own bunting
- Self adhesive Gems, Jewels and decorations (For crown making)
- Cupcake decorating eg Icing sugar, sugarcrafts, fun shaped cutters, edible decorations etc
- Games/Vintage games (We are making our own skittle alley but would love to have some nostalgic games for some of our older service members)
- Musical/Percussion instruments
- Party food! Must be in date and pre wrapped/Individually wrapped sweet treats, nibbles and snacks (for our buffet. Symone the cook says please no sausage rolls as we have some 😋)
-Traditional Cake/Afternoon Tea Display stands (If anyone has these, even if just to loan, for our Jubilee party we would be ever so grateful and think it would add an extra fine touch to our service user's afternoon tea buffet!)

We are open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. The party is planned for Weds the 1st June so please make sure to bring donations in asap before then.

Thankyou in advance and wishing you and your families your own excellent celebration, whatever you are planning 🥳

A big THANK YOU to Terry Goodwin, a local volunteer who has been giving up his time once again to transform the front room at YMCA Highland Road, Dudley. Working with residents to share some ideas, they decided that they wanted a Training Room that was inspirational. As life at Highland Road is all about a journey to independence, Terry created a train track with stations that reflected that passage such as “Budgeting Bridge” and “Daunting Departures”. He also added a post it note wall, with motivational quotes which residents can add to. The first draft of the new weekly timetable saw a good turnout from our young people. We'd also like to wish Terry a 'happy birthday' who recently turned 75!

Friendship is universal, but so is its opposite, loneliness. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we encourage you to reach out. Get chatting over a cuppa, or why not walk and talk in your local green space.
Small talks can make a big difference.
ymca.org.uk/smalltalks

Y's Girls is a National YMCA project which matches trained volunteer mentors with young women aged 9-14 years old to support them to be their best.

Since it's inception in May 2021 it's seen some really positive outcomes:
• 229 mentoring relationships have been established
• 359 girls have been referred
• 255 mentors have been trained

Our local project
If you would like to apply to be a mentor or know someone who you feel might benefit from this programme, visit https://www.ymcabc.org.uk/our-services/health-wellbeing/y-girls/ or contact [email protected]

Y’s Girls project has been made possible by our generous funders, The Tampon Tax Fund and The Penny Appeal

World Culture Day takes place on Saturday 21 May and we'd like to invite our community us to celebrate the stories, traditions and cultures and join us for an afternoon of music, food and creative expression.

Live acts of music, poetry, dance and song will flood the airwaves in and around City Gateway, Wolverhampton. The smells and tastes of foods from cultures represented across the city will be free for everyone to enjoy. We will be together as one community united in diversity celebrating difference, culture and heritage.

Please join us Saturday 21 May at City Gateway between 12pm - 4pm.

It's fun to live at the YMCA! Providing young people with new, contemporary, safe and secure, accommodation with a landlord they can trust. Aimed at 18-35 in full time education or training. For more information contact [email protected]

Busy few days at YGym Fitness Ymca, our new timetable goes live next week and we're finally able to share the short walkthrough we've created for people to take a look around and see what facilities are on offer.

Visit our website to take a peek! 👀

ymcabc.org.uk/ygym

Residents living in our Housing Projects across the whole of the Black Country group completed feedback forms on the support and service they receive. All those who completed the forms had their names drawn out of a hat, and Callum Walker from Green Lane Project in Walsall was drawn out and received a £50 voucher. Here is Callum receiving his voucher from Housing Manager Lynne.

Easter is a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life. 💙

From us all at YMCA, we wish you a Happy Easter

It's fun to live at the YMCA! Providing young people with new, contemporary, safe and secure, accommodation with a landlord they can trust. Aimed at 18-35 in full time education or training. For more information contact [email protected]

Everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become. 🧡

‘I can empathise because I’ve been there’: the mother who fled violence – and now offers her home to others in need

YMCA Open Door The mother who fled violence – and now offers her home to others in need https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/apr/02/mother-fled-violence-now-offers-home-to-others-in-need

‘I can empathise because I’ve been there’: the mother who fled violence – and now offers her home to others in need Rupy Kahlon has hosted 15 young adults in her spare rooms – she wants to help them get back on their feet, as she did, after fleeing an abusive relationship

We're hiring inspiring people to work in our nurseries!

We believe every family deserves the support they need to develop and lead more fulfilling lives; if you think the same then there's a place here for you. There are a number of jobs available at all experience levels across all of our Black Country based nurseries.

To join our team or for more details please visit: ymcabc.org.uk/nurseryjobs

We're looking for inspiring individuals to join our Nursery family!

We have nurseries across the Black Country with a supportive and experienced staff team dedicated to developing the mind, body and spirit of every child in our care.

Working for YMCA means more than just job in childcare. As the world’s largest youth charity, you’ll belong to an international movement which puts the needs of children and young people first, in addition to a range of additional benefits.

There are a number of nursery jobs available from entry level practitioner roles to nursery managers.

To join our nursery team ymcabc.org.uk/nurseryjobs

It's fun to live at YMCA! Last few clusters at our Y-Living accommodation, Wolverhampton. Aimed at young professionals aged 18-35 or young people in full time education or training. For more information visit our website https://www.ymcabc.org.uk/our-services/accommodation/transitional-housing/city-gateway-accommodation/

Thank you for every hug, every laugh, every encouraging word, every bit of faith, and every sacrifice. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mums out there. ❤️

Today we join the nation and pause to remember our family, friends, neighbours and colleagues we’ve lost during the pandemic.

Jobs - YMCA Black Country Group

Looking for a new job? We have a range of job opportunities on offer at YMCA Black Country Group... for more information visit https://www.ymcabc.org.uk/get-involved/jobs/ and apply now!

Jobs - YMCA Black Country Group Thanks for taking the time to check out the range of job opportunities on offer at YMCA Black Country Group. We believe in creating opportunities and places where individuals can Belong, Contribute and Thrive. We are an organisation that embraces a culture where our Christian based core values are a...