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YMCA Norfolk will be taking part in The Wonder Tree giving initiative this Christmas, in partnership with Norwich City Football Club and SOUL Church.

Over 800 individuals will receive a free gift from the partnership, including 240 young people that are provided a safe home and are supported by YMCA Norfolk as well as children of single parent families and children of families on the edge of care.  Children of a local school and other families in need will also receive gifts.

Tim Sweeting, YMCA Norfolk CEO, said:

“Among all the joy and fun of this time of year, many of the families we support across our county will experience financial difficulties and feel under pressure this Christmas.

“We are so excited to be part of The Wonder Tree campaign to put that right and help to alleviate stress for a number of families.

“As a youth charity that is in the business of hope, we want to ensure that we can offer hope to children and young people; helping them to have a fantastic Christmas.”

Zoe Ward, Business and Project Director for the Canaries, added:

“Norwich City Football Club is really pleased to support such a special initiative that will help make a difference to families within our community.

“The Wonder Tree Campaign will enable all children to really enjoy this special time of year”

Jon Norman, Lead Pastor of SOUL Church, said: “The Wonder Tree is all about placing dignity on families who are struggling at Christmas and we are honoured to be partnering Norwich City Football Club and the YMCA. Together we’re stronger!”

Note to readers:

If you would like to donate a gift to The Wonder Tree, please follow the instructions below:

1. Pick up a gift tag from The Wonder Tree at SOUL Church – choose from Gold, Silver or Purple

2. Follow the instructions on the tag. Please only bring brand new gifts with a value of up to £15.00

3. Bring the present and the tag back to church and pop them under the tree. We’ll take care of the wrapping! If you’d like to donate online, please visit www.thewonder.org.uk or www.soulchurch.co.uk/donate and select ‘Wonder Tree’ on the donations drop down.

YMCA’s 175^th anniversary roadshow, which launched at the Houses of Parliament in June this year, will be exhibited at Castle Quarter, Norwich, on 10^th – 13^th February 2020.

YMCA Norfolk will host the exhibition, which showcases and celebrates the roots of YMCA. The roadshow has been co-produced and delivered by young people working jointly with 10 local YMCAs and esteemed partner, Birmingham University, and made possible by the grant received from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. YMCA Norfolk hopes to inspire the local community with stories of YMCA’s heritage, including its work during World War I and World War II.

The project has revealed new materials relating to YMCA, telling the untold stories from YMCA’s history and heritage. From humble beginnings when George Williams created the YMCA in London in 1844, the stories unfold through the years, focussed around YMCA’s four themes of Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment, Health and Environment.

On display will be a huge range of artwork from through various eras in history, including posters and postcards that depict the evolution of YMCA over the years. The exhibition will include copies of posters from China, the Middle East and India – advertising various international YMCA services, such as health campaigns, as well as moving art work from Prisoners of War.

Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England & Wales, said: “Over the past 175 years, YMCA has impacted upon the lives of millions of people across the UK. Our Anniversary Roadshow will be the first time we have brought together our rich heritage and history in one place for the public to see.

“Showcasing stories such as our support during the First and Second World Wars, inventing basketball and volleyball, and our work with the United Nations alongside brand-new tales from local YMCAs will bring this exhibition, and the history of YMCA, to life in an exciting way.”

On November 8, Charlie Smith, Senior Mental Health Youth Engagement Worker, was awarded ‘Young Leader of the Year’ at the national YMCA Youth Matters awards. The Young Leader of the Year Award recognises a young person for their ability to make a real difference in their YMCA by bringing about positive change, working with vision and inspiring others.

Charlie was praised by judges for her drive and determination in breaking down damaging stigmas and raising awareness of mental health issues. She has been instrumental in growing YMCA Norfolk’s Mind Matters team, and in completing her training for Mental Health First Aid she has driven the project forward and developed close links with local charities, schools and churches.

Charlie’s passion for youth work has not stopped in Norfolk and in her role as Youth Ambassador for YMCA England & Wales she has travelled all over; delivering the positive mental health message globally. Charlie has attended a YMCA conference in Switzerland and delivered a training session to other YMCA staff and Youth Ambassadors, as well as speaking at the UN in New York about the role young people should play in decision making. We spoke to Charlie about her time with YMCA and asked how other young YMCA staff members can follow in her foot steps:

Hi Charlie. How long have you work with YMCA Norfolk, and for what period of that time have you been involved with YMCA England and Wales?

I have worked for YMCA Norfolk for over 5 years. I first got involved with YMCA England and Wales about 4 years ago when we received the original funding for Mind Matters. After the success from the project I then got involved further with them as a Youth Ambassador and started attending events to raise awareness of our project. These events included speaking at St Paul’s Cathedral (to a big crowd!)

What inspired you to become involved in the wider YMCA movement?

I love working for YMCA Norfolk so was excited to know that there were so many other YMCA’s out there to explore and find out what impact they had on their communities.

What has been the highlight of your YMCA career?

There have been so many great things but I think the best one is going to New York as a Youth Ambassador. I got to go to the UN and even speak in front of many around the importance of young people in decision making. That was just amazing!

What are your future plans? 

To continue to work hard to increase awareness of Mind Matters and the work that we carry out to ensure that all young people receive the help they require around mental health and wellbeing. I also aim to still work with YMCA England and Wales as a Youth Ambassador in every way I can!

What advice would you give to a young YMCA Norfolk employee looking to become a youth ambassador/work with YMCA nationally or internationally?

DO IT! Why wouldn’t you?! Working as a Youth Ambassador has opened my eyes to how great the YMCA is around the world whilst also improving my own confidence, belief in what I can achieve and building skills in public speaking and working alongside various nationalities. The travel opportunities are pretty amazing too! So yeah, do it!

Richard was born in 1934, the second son of John and Grace Jarrold, and lived in Cotman Road in Thorpe, Norwich.

During the Second World War Richard, and his elder brother Peter, were evacuated with his school Town Close, to the safety of Westmoreland (Cumbria). His education later continued at Old Buckenham Hall School and Oundle School. Then, taking the option to postpone National Service, he went to Queens’ College Cambridge and gained a BA (hons) in Natural Sciences.

Richard met his future wife, Waltraud, when she was staying in Norwich in 1953.  Their courtship spanned five years and, after Richard finished his studies at Queens’, he joined the army. He chose to join the 5th Royal Horse Artillery Regiment, who were stationed in Germany, from where he visited Waltraud and her family in Winningen near Koblenz. They married in 1958. 

Richard and Waltraud were major movers in the twinning of Norwich and Koblenz and have worked hard, over some 30 years to connect both communities through many organisations and exchanges.

After National Service Richard studied retailing with the family owned store group Beales, in Bournemouth.  Returning to the Jarrold London Street store, Richard took on the role of Managing Director from Mr Grant, on his planned retirement in1959.

Richard took over as Chairman of the three divisions of Jarrold – Printing, Publishing and Retail – from his brother Peter who retired in 1999 and finally retired himself in 2002.

Richard was closely involved in many aspects of Norwich life and the community. He was President of YMCA Norfolk for over 40 years and when he stepped down in 2010 he was awarded the organisation’s highest honour, the Order of the Red Triangle.

The Lord Richard Dannatt took over from Richard as President and paid tribute saying: “As well as his very successful business and professional life, Richard was very committed to the Christian faith and believed very strongly in wanting to help young people have a fair start in life. He found that the YMCA combined those two aspirations and his love and work for the charity was boundless.

“Only two weeks ago he attended the Annual General Meeting and celebration of the work of the YMCA over the last year. He will be very sadly missed but we all give great thanks for a wonderful life, very well lived. “ 

John Drake, CEO of YMCA Norfolk from 1978 to 2009, paid tribute: “Richard served the YMCA in Norfolk at every level. From a very active Chairman to part-time voluntary leader. He and a brave band of others stood in the gap in the dark days of the 1970s and through unrelenting Christian commitment and sacrifice helped build the successful mission that is this great YMCA. 

“From his early years YMCA service was coded in Richard’s DNA.  In 1856 Thomas Jarrold was one of our founding members, in the 1880s a Jarrold shop worker, Samuel True was our first General Secretary, Richard’s father gave of his time and so this legacy of service continues on.”
Current YMCA Norfolk CEO, Tim Sweeting, said:  “Richard was an outstanding YMCA leader who, for over 50 years, consistently modelled humility, commitment and service to others. His record of service stands as an inspiration to all of us who would wish to make a lasting difference in our great county. He will live long in the memory of our YMCA for the man he was and the strong legacy he has left for future generations.”

Richard was also vice chairman of the UEA Council, and awarded an Honorary Degree in recognition of his services to the University and Norwich community. He was Chairman of the Assembly House Trustees, and the John Jarrold Trust, President of Norwich Chamber of Commerce, and President and a very active member of Norwich Rotary Club for over 50 years.

During his lifetime he was involved in many other local trusts and charities. He served as a magistrate for many years and was a long-term governor of the Hewett School in Norwich.

He was a keen supporter of the arts and music, and of Holy Trinity Church, Norwich, which he had attended from his teenage years.

Richard is survived by his wife Waltraud, and his daughters Caroline and Michelle, and grandchildren Max, Felix, Elliott, Louisa and Alice.

Daughter Caroline told Network Norfolk: “We have received so many heartfelt tributes many of which note how integral his faith was to his life, including this one from retired Norwich headteacher, Claude Scott, who wrote: ‘Richard did not shout it from the rooftops, but lived it out day by day in what he did and the decisions he made both in his public and private life. His faith showed in the practical outworking of an inward and deep relationship with God. Though he was naturally a quiet person, people took notice of him because of his integrity, dignity, genuine humility, wisdom and sense of purpose.’ 

“We really couldn’t put it better ourselves. He was a wonderful, kind and thoughtful husband, father and grandfather and we will all miss him tremendously.”

A service of thanksgiving will be held at Norwich Cathedral on January 30, 2020 at 12 noon to which those who knew and loved Richard will be welcome.

Article written by Keith Morris.