Alison Dawson

Local people helped raise much needed funds for YMCA Norfolk by taking part in a mammoth virtual Sleep Easy event on Friday March 26, vital funds from which will go towards tackling the root causes of youth homelessness. 

Local people including individuals, families, local businesses and church groups took part in the event, which saw individuals across the country sleeping anywhere but their beds to raise awareness of the thousands of young people who are made homeless each year.  

The event itself looked a little different to previous years, as COVID-19 has not just had an impact on homelessness services but on fundraising as well. Traditionally an event that brings lots of the community together in one place, this year’s Sleep Easy challenged fundraiser’s creativity as streets and outdoor venues were replaced by bathtubs, kitchen floors, warehouses and gardens. 

The money raised will be used to support YMCA Norfolk’s services for children and young people.  

Susie Knights, Marketing & Fundraising Manager of YMCA Norfolk said:  

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the success of this year’s Sleep Easy and can’t thank everyone enough for participating, donating and nominating – you are all incredible!  

“As a year, 2020 was more challenging than anyone could ever have anticipated, but one overwhelming positive that emerged was the power of community and the difference that can make to people’s lives. 

“Thanks to the support received we can now help even more vulnerable young people and support them to realise their full potential. One night really can make a lifetime of difference.” 

Jessica Sprouse, 23, participant of Sleep Easy 2021, said:

“The experience was more challenging than I expected, and I was truly struck by the physical and emotional toll of just one night of sleeping uncomfortably.

“It has made me reflect on how exhausting it must be for those faced with multiple nights on the streets, who unlike me do not have the option to return to a safe and comfortable bed.

“I am really glad I took part, not only to help raise money for this important cause, but because it has made me consider the harsh reality faced by other young people who are experiencing homelessness.”

Judy Bailey, Events Officer of YMCA Norfolk, who also participated in the Sleep Easy, said:  

“No matter how cold and uncomfortable it was we knew it was only for one night. For anyone having to face the reality of getting through a day with nowhere to go and then sleep rough again at night is overwhelming.  

“Knowing the money we raised will mean YMCA Norfolk can continue to offer help to vulnerable young people in the county was really motivating.” 

YMCA Norfolk has operated in the county since 1856 housing over 400 people each year supporting them towards independent living. 

For more information on Sleep Easy 2021 visit http://www.ymcanorfolk.org/get-involved/sleep-easy/ 

The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, was welcomed on Thursday 25 March to dedicate and commission the brand-new YMCA Centre on Aylsham Road as one of the first visitors to the building since its recent completion. 

The visit signifies the culmination of YMCA Norfolk’s ambitious project to bring a multi-purpose Community Hub to the city, which commenced in 2019 after planning approval and financial support was granted by Norfolk County Council.

Tim Sweeting, YMCA Norfolk Chief Executive, said:

“It was a fantastic privilege to show Bishop Graham around our new centre alongside our President, General the Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL, and Lady Philippa Dannatt, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.

“Our new building is one of which we are extremely proud and are beyond excited to open its doors to the public, to share YMCA’s community-enhancing mission with members of the Norwich and Norfolk community. 

“We are confident that our nursery, cafe, soft play and staff offices will bring an abundance of hope and a sense of community to the area – a vision shared by all staff and supporters of YMCA Norfolk.”

Bishop Graham was met by Tim (CEO) and Phillip Macdonald (Chair of Trustees), alongside Lord and Lady Dannatt to be given a tour of the purpose-built facilities – including Muddy Puddles Nursery, a 90-place Ofsted registered nursery, which officially opens on 12 April. 

The nursery will provide a mix of funded and non-funded places to ensure that families from less advantaged backgrounds are able to enjoy the childcare facilities, helping YMCA Norfolk to fulfil the mission of the project to bring a long-lasting and sustainable presence to support the local community in this under-resourced area of the city.

As part of the Bishop Graham’s visit, he was among the first to see the newly installed Explorers Soft Play Centre, designed for children to enjoy playing in a safe area adjacent to the community-focused café, Williams’ Kitchen. 

Bishop Graham said: “It was my delight to dedicate YMCA Norfolk’s new community hub this morning. May it flourish as it demonstrates the love of Jesus in supporting young people and families to build firm foundations and experience life in all its abundance.”

The Café forms the centre of the Hub, which visitors will enter into directly, intended to provide a welcoming and safe space for all members of the community – where they can enjoy high-quality food and drinks. In addition, the Hub is the new base for the YMCA Norfolk offices, enabling staff members and the management team to also be based on-site.

During the visit, Bishop Graham and Lord and Lady Dannatt were able to meet and discuss the potential impact of the building in the local community with staff members who have played in key role in enabling this project to go ahead.

Full Covid-19 restrictions were in place to ensure everyone’s safety during the visit. 

Construction of the new YMCA centre was completed in early February, after a year-long redevelopment to transform the existing Jubilee Centre into an innovate and sustainable multi-purpose hub, designed to bring a committed and community-focussed presence to an under resourced area of the city.

The ambitious project, supported by the Lind Trust, Norfolk County Council and other local funders, will house YMCA Norfolk’s corporate offices along with Williams’ Kitchen, a café named after YMCA founder George Williams, and Explorers Soft Play. 

Also on site is Muddy Puddles, a 90-place children’s nursery which will open after Easter. Beth Fox, the new nursery manager, has been busy taking calls and bookings from interested parents, and recruitment for the nursery staff team is well under way in preparation for the nursery’s long-awaited opening. 

Tim Sweeting, YMCA Norfolk CEO said,

“It has been great to work with Cocksedge Building Constructors, LSI Architects and Daniel Connal Partnership who have all done a fantastic job in converting the old British Legion building into a space that will serve the community of Norwich for many more decades to come”.

The next step for the building is the internal fit out of purpose built and environmentally friendly facilities which will bring the centre to life and create a warm and welcoming environment for people of all ages and walks of life to use and enjoy the services on offer. 

YMCA Norfolk are highly grateful for the support they have received which has enabled the project to go ahead. The public appeal remains open for individuals who wish to support the project in its final stages at:  https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ymcanorfolkcommunityhub

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the YMCA Norfolk website to view nursery job vacancies at http://www.ymcanorfolk.org/get-involved/working-for-us/, and prospective parents can contact childcare@ymcanorfolk.org to find out more.

For the very first time, YMCA Norfolk will be coming together with YMCAs from across England to take part in a mammoth virtual Sleep Easy event on Friday March 26, with the aim of raising vital funds to help tackle the root causes of youth homelessness. 

And so, from 7pm on Friday 26 to 7am on Saturday 27 March, hundreds of people across the country will be sleeping anywhere but their beds to raise awareness of the thousands of young people who are made homeless each year, and YMCA Norfolk is calling on the county to join in!   

Money raised from the event will go towards delivering much needed support for residents and homeless young people.

YMCA Norfolk hosted its first Sleep Easy in 2010 and over the last decade has raised over £100,000 through the event.  These funds have helped support nearly 500 people each year by providing accommodation and support to help vulnerable people towards independent living whilst also providing employment, training and work experience through social enterprises and employability projects.

This Sleep Easy will look different to previous years as COVID-19 has not just had an impact on homelessness services but on fundraising as well. Traditionally, an event that brings lots of the community together in one place, this year will see people going solo or with their families and swapping the streets for bathtubs, sofas or garden tents. It is hoped that this special collaborative event will help YMCA Norfolk raise more funding than ever in aid of youth homelessness.

Susie Knights, Marketing and Fundraising Manager of YMCA Norfolk, said: 

“As a year, 2020 was more difficult and heart-breaking than anyone could ever have anticipated, but one overwhelming positive that emerged was the power of community and the difference that can make to people’s lives.   

“We know from our own experience over the past 165 years of working in Norfolk that without the support offered by YMCA and our partners, many more vulnerable young people would be forced to sleep on the streets with less options and less chance of realising their potential. 

“With this in mind, we are calling on the community to sleep somewhere other than their beds and help raise a record sum of money for this special Sleep Easy event. Please participate, donate and nominate to spread the word: one night can make a lifetime of difference.”  

YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of supported housing for young people in England and Wales, providing a bed for 8,800 people each night and collectively helping more than 20,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. 

For more information or to register for Virtual Sleep Easy 2021, please visit http://www.ymcanorfolk.org/get-involved/sleep-easy/ or contact our Events Officer Judy on judy.bailey@ymcanorfolk.org

The ‘Play Up Project’, which initially partnered with The Youth West Partnership in Summer 2019, was successfully bringing together 33 young musicians before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Also supported by Norfolk Music Hub, the project provided an important social space for the young musicians involved, who were invited to improve on their musical skills and confidence through regular sessions and live public performances. 

With the beginning of the pandemic and the country entering into lockdown in March this year, John Kramarchuk, the project’s leader, was determined to continue to provide opportunities for the group, many of whom were left feeling socially isolated as a result of the missed sessions. 

John’s solution was the ‘Play Up Remote Recording Project’, an idea for bands to remotely record their own concept albums based on their lives as teenagers during the pandemic. After approaching the charity with the idea that would allow John to continue supporting these young people and ensuring their group sessions could continue, YMCA Norfolk, together with other partners including PEACH West Norfolk, were able to support the project by providing funding towards home recording equipment for 10 musicians. 

Charlie Wall, Senior Youth Engagement Worker for YMCA Norfolk said,

“John contacted me and the Youth West Partnership Coordinator with this great idea that would allow the young people of West Norfolk to continue their musical projects and receive the vital support they needed during such a challenging time.

“We were delighted to support John through purchasing equipment that would enable his vision to go ahead.”

Through online zoom sessions, the young people engaged and learned the skills required to record at home and use the new equipment. As a result of the project so far, participants have recorded 9 songs, with two of them being played on KLFM and Future Radio. 

John continues to search for further support that will allow his important work to continue, after the initial success it has seen so far. He said,

“These young people have found their passion. They found a place to exercise it and then it was snatched away. They have remained engaged through the lockdown, learned new skills and produced some stunning work. Their joy in this project is there for all to see.”

On Thursday 13^th August a commemorative time capsule was installed by the the Chief Executive Officer Tim Sweeting, in a small false wall at the new Community Hub under development on Aylsham Road in Norwich.

The time capsule included a collection of YMCA memorabilia, stories, drawings, observations, poems and testimonies collected from YMCA clients and staff from their different locations across Norfolk. 

Tim Sweeting commented,

“YMCA has been in Norfolk for over 165 years and has a long and varied history. We are excited to leave a time capsule that will commemorate this exciting moment in our history and act as an important piece of heritage. It will provide a snapshot of this unique time for future generations to explore.

“Through our ambitious Community Hub we are making a long term commitment to the local community that will enable us to serve and support families and youth in the area for many years to come.”

Also present at the installation were sisters and local residents Amelie and Cora Bailey, who are excited about the new hub and its facilities.

Amelie, 9, said, 

“I am looking forward to going to the soft play and café as a treat after school if I have been good.”

Cora, 5, said,

“I am excited because it is right next to my school and Nana can take me there when she picks me up from school.”

The renovations to the building are being conducted by building contractors Cocksedge. Commercial Manager Darren Reeve said,

“It’s great to see a time-capsule being placed here at the new YMCA Hub as we reach a mid-point and now start to close-up areas of the refurbished building.

“Keeping the project on track with new ways of working through the pandemic certainly has been a real team effort, and one which will see the local community, especially young people, benefit from the services that will be on offer at the Hub.

“The project itself has also allowed us to provide opportunities for an apprentice to gain valuable carpentry experience, which aligns with the YMCA’s goals in providing local young people with a focus for education, employment and positive well-being.”

Once renovations are completed in early 2021, the Hub will feature community café Williams’ Kitchen, Explorers Soft Play Centre, and Muddy Puddles – an Ofsted registered nursery with an inclusive and compassionate approach to childcare. The nursery aims to encompass a reduced technology approach to childcare, encouraging outdoor play and exploration. More information and the nursery prospectus are available now on the YMCA Norfolk website: www.ymcanorfolk.org.

YMCA Norfolk have received generous support for the Hub in response to fundraising efforts from trusts, foundations, generous individuals and Norfolk County Council. Public support has also helped to raise over £15,000, 60% of the public appeal target of £25,000. 

Members of the public who would like to offer financial support are invited to visit the public appeal page on Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ymcanorfolkcommunityhub