City YMCA

City YMCA is an inclusive and diverse Christian movement, which welcomes people of all faiths and those of none. The vision of City YMCA is currently expressed as 'Enabling young people to dream'. This vision is underpinned by our Christian faith which is expressed through our work with young people, so that young people can create and choose constructive futures.



City YMCA incorporates London City and Barbican YMCAs, merged on 1st December 2005. The new single organisation is now able to offer a wide range of services including over 350 bed spaces.Although the focus remains on services to young people the all age community is included, especially through health and fitness facilities. City YMCA, London, is now delivering housing, youth and fitness services across the City of London, Islington and Hackney. The merger will enable services to be delivered with improved value and the increased organisational capacity will enable an extensive development programme. Current plans, at various stages of realisation, include a new youth centre in Shoreditch, other youth work development, new fitness programmes to meet specific needs and development of the supported housing for young people.

About:

At the core of our work has been a detached presence on the streets, estates and open places of South Islington and Hackney. Many of the young people we work with choose not to engage with other agencies, activities and services; they trust City YMCA to listen and respond to their needs; in over 400 detached sessions a year, this is exactly what we do. Backing up our detached work has been the ongoing delivery and development of focus groups and pieces of work specifically targeted at the needs of individuals. All of our work is developed with the active involvement of young people who always contribute to the design of their programme.

The Young Leaders Against Crime project grew out of a focus group's determination to put something back. This project has been entirely conceived, planned and proposed by a group of young people who have progressed through City YMCA over time. A three phased project, the young people are conducting wide ranging research [Operation Trident; University of Greenwich Criminology Department; The Youth Offending Team and local Member of Parliament Emily Thornbury and a fact-finding trip to New York], developing an educational film with The Mouth That Roars before delivering a series of workshops to peers in other youth clubs and young people's venues in and around London. In 2006 we're looking forward to launching a radio station cafe and further enhancing our work in support of young people's sexual health.....If you'd like to know more about our youthwork, the principles that underpin it, or the methods we use, please contact: Francis Cooper, Head of Youth Projects, City YMCA.