Alison Dawson

The escape room is a recent collaboration between YMCA Norfolk, Norfolk Museum Service and Kick the Dust, a programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund which aims to transform how heritage organisations engage young people in the UK.

The initiative saw YMCA clients from Great Yarmouth develop and run two escape rooms in Great Yarmouth’s oldest building, the Tolhouse Gaol. This provided a fantastic setting for the themes of ‘Smugglers’ and ‘Witchfinders’ that the two rooms were based on. They were delivered by 5 YMCA clients, four of whom were acting in costume as part of the escape rooms, with one overseeing photography and social media coverage.

After their huge success, the partnership are taking their escape room to Norwich, to be a part of the YMCA 175 exhibition on Tuesday 11^th February on the ground floor of Castle Quarter, 100 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DD . The 175 exhibition is a part of the YMCA Heritage and History Roadshow, celebrating the 175^th anniversary of the YMCA by showcasing unique materials and untold stories from YMCA’s history and heritage. In addition to the escape room, there will be a range of historic information and artwork on display depicting the evolution and global reach of YMCA over the past 175 years, along with interactive exhibits. The exhibition will be open from Monday 10^th February till 13^th February from 10am-4pm.

YMCA Norfolk CEO Tim Sweeting commented,

“The YMCA has a rich and a varied history, and this exhibition will be a great opportunity to learn of some of its great achievements such as its work in two World Wars, creating the game of basketball and the remembrance poppy, and its work internationally as the largest youth movement and NGO in the world.”

The escape room will be totally FREE to experience, with four slots available for booking at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm on Tuesday 11^th February. It is a timed escape room, where you will work as a team or independently to solve clues and puzzles in order to prove your innocence to the judge – and you have 45 mins to break free! It will be held in Castle Quarter, in the crazy football unit next to the YMCA shop across from the exhibition.

To book an escape room experience please contact Leanne.lacey@ymcanorfolk.org   For more information regarding the exhibition please contact amanda.bayfield@ymcanorfolk.org

Run Norwich is an award winning 10km road race, organised by the NCFC Community Sports Foundation that takes place in the heart of Norwich’s beautiful and historic city centre.

Last year Run Norwich places sold out within 4 days – this year the 10km race will return for the 6^th time, with demand for places expected to be the highest yet.

As a partner charity for Run Norwich 2020 we are thrilled we can offer 30 places to runners who will, in return, commit to raising a minimum of £150 which will enable us to continue with the vital services we provide. In return we can offer a race shirt and support along the way, including an invitation to join our running group to train for 10k led by our very own Catherine Watling. This will be completely free of charge and will be a fantastic opportunity not only to train but to meet fellow YMCA representative runners before the day. This is likely to start at the beginning of April for 12 weeks but further details will be available closer to the time. We will also provide a fundraising pack, including sponsor forms, and help with linking online fundraising to our YMCA fundraising (site)

In the last year alone, YMCA Norfolk has included provided a safe and secure home to 445 young people, intensive family support to 68 families via our Families Team, enabling 674 young people to participate in Mental Health Awareness sessions and providing 7209 hours of one-to-one support.

To register your interest in securing a place whilst raising funds for YMCA Norfolk please email judy.bailey@ymcanorfolk.org. 

For further race information and rules please follow the link https://www.runnorwich.co.uk/.

YMCA Norfolk is part of the oldest youth charity in the world but we are completely autonomous and solely responsible for raising our own funding which is used to carry out the services we offer to vulnerable young people and families in Norfolk.

Our mission is to inspire young people to discover their potential so that they can live life in all its fullness. We provide accommodation and support to help people towards independent living whilst also providing employment, training and work place experience through our social enterprises and employability projects.