Harriet King

YMCA England and Wales research into government figures today reveals the true extent of potential damage to some of the most vulnerable among the 918,000* young people currently claiming Universal Credit if the £20 a week uplift is removed on 6 October.

For a young person leaving supported accommodation and relying on Universal Credit, there are typically three housing options: social, shared or one-bedroom accommodation. While the current uplift provides more opportunity to find the best fit for each individual, after that £20 is removed the only viable option for many young people is shared housing – an option often not suited to those with complex lives.

This loss to finances means the difference between generating debt and breaking even, with these figures not taking into account necessities like travel, food and prescriptions.**

When looking at the end of the uplift in relation to employment, government thinking suggests that its removal would inspire a spike in those looking to secure work, however figures for those aged 16-to-24 suggest a high uptake already. More than a third (38%) of 16-to-24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit are employed, with the employment rate in this age range rising significantly between April and June 2021.

What is clear from YMCA research is the stark difference the uplift makes in relation to earnings once bare essentials and daily costs are considered, with young people on low income typically finding themselves priced out of anything past necessity. And for those on Universal Credit and not in employment, affording even essential items after rent and bills can already lead to shortfalls, often meaning financial arrears, reliance on food banks or even skipping meals. Once the £20 uplift is removed, many more young people in this situation risk being pushed beyond the breadline and even further into debt.

John Lee Chief Executive of YMCA Norfolk said:

“For many vulnerable 16-to-24-year-olds, the uplift means that their vital monthly lifeline of £257 – which is already lower than their 25+ counterparts – is boosted significantly by £87 at a critical time in their lives. By removing the uplift, the choices a young person has when moving out of supported housing narrow dramatically, impacting the type of accommodation they can move in to, access to employment opportunities, and whether they can afford necessities.”

“While YMCA Norfolk appreciates that difficult decisions must be made in order to support the economic recovery of the country after a traumatic time, the removal of this lifeline will make it substantially harder for young people to move out of supported housing and become independent.

“YMCA Norfolk is asking the Government to maintain the £20 weekly uplift to ensure young people striving for independent living are able to do so while pursuing a career or learning opportunities – without an increased risk of falling into debt. The choice should never be one or the other.”

YMCA Norfolk have recently announced their plans to host a number of events at their brand-new Aylsham Road community hub, which consists of Williams’ Kitchen, Explorers Soft Play, Muddy Puddles Nursery and staff HQ. 

Kicking off with a Careers and Coffee morning on Wednesday 22^nd September, YMCA Norfolk’s friendly café, childcare, families and youth team will be at Williams’ Kitchen to chat with the public about the number of fantastic job roles available with the charity. Starting at 9.30am until 12pm, the charity welcomes anyone interested in working for them to pop along for a coffee and informal chat with staff members.

Lisa Xuereb, YMCA Norfolk HR Manager, said:

“As an organisation that is always expanding, we are keen to promote our fantastic recruitment opportunities to the Norwich community at our Coffee and Careers morning this September.

“We want to provide the public and job-seekers the chance to chat to staff members from a number of teams across YMCA Norfolk, and learn more about the day-to-day tasks each team undertakes.

“We are proud to offer a number of training and development opportunities, as well as some brilliant staff benefits, and pride ourselves on our staff feedback – of which 99% of almost 100 staff members think we’re a good employer.”

YMCA Norfolk recruited a number of new staff members earlier this year, in line with the hub’s official opening on 12^th April 2021. Keen to offer the Norfolk community job opportunities post-pandemic, 20 positions were filled at the new facility.

Due to the popularity of the café, soft play and nursery, the charity is now seeking to recruit more staff at the Aylsham Road centre, as well as further roles across their families, youth and housing teams – which operate across the Norfolk county.

Further events set to be held at the hub – which is based just a 5 minute drive from Norwich city centre –  include the Charity Quiz Night on Thursday 23^rd September, and the Christmas 2021 Norwich Craft Fayre on Saturday 27^th November, providing a wonderful opportunity to purchase locally made gifts.

YMCA Norfolk Events Coordinator, Judy Bailey, said:

“We are so excited to be able to utilise our fantastic new community hub to host a range of events for the area. The Careers and Coffee morning will be a great way to re-introduce our face-to-face events post a tough and unpredictable 18 months due to the pandemic.

“Our events schedule has always proven to be popular with our supporters, and we can’t wait to meet some new faces as we welcome back our regular events such as our Charity Quiz Night, in addition to new events such as our Christmas & Craft Fayre.

“Williams’ Kitchen and the facilities at YMCA Aylsham Road makes for the perfect space for community events, offering a spacious, clean and friendly environment with the option to purchase delicious food and drink from our on-site café.”

For more information on our events schedule please email judy.bailey@ymcanorfolk.org

YMCA Norfolk have announced the launch of their free online parental wellbeing programme, shaped to support parents who gave birth during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Starting August 16^th 2021 and running through until June 2022, the families and community team have tailored blocks of 6-week online workshops around the needs of post-natal parents and new families.

The programme kicks off with baby massage sessions, with classes running every Monday 1.15-2pm and hosted by Little Dots Norwich. Parents will have the opportunity to learn massage stroke techniques and practice baby massage alongside professionals in an informal, casual online setting.

Continuing with the wellbeing theme, parents are welcome to join YMCA Norfolk and Little Dots for 6-weeks of Baby Yoga, launching 27^th September. The online programme includes gentle body strokes, mini twists and stretches, swings and dips, singing and rhymes, massage, and relaxation, stretching the whole body and helping babies to experience different body positions.

The programme came about after staff at YMCA Norfolk identified a need for support among parents who missed out on the regular perinatal support provided – due to the pressures on the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marie Whiteland, Families Senior Engagement Worker at YMCA Norfolk, said:

“The YMCA recognises that the pandemic has been particularly tough on pregnant women and new families.  Health fears, combined with several lock downs and restrictions has led to social isolation and an increase in anxiety for many.  When we found out about the Norfolk Community Foundation Peri-natal, Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund we instantly knew that we wanted to get involved.”

Further online classes running into the new year include the likes of ‘Calm, Confident birth and beyond’ and ‘the practical peri-natal guide for new families.’ All classes are relaxed and easy to follow with weekly reviewal as well time for informal parent discussion.

The overall aim of the programme is to make perinatal support as accessible as possible following a difficult year for parents and to help new families to think about postnatal preparation.

YMCA Norfolk staff want to challenge post-natal taboo’s and ‘get real’ about the challenges ahead. Engagement workers will work with parents to determine the way best way ask for help post-birth, how to tackle relationship difficulties, how to manage social media pressures and as well as other barriers of positive parental wellbeing that have been identified.

Marie added:

“We have tailored most of our support to be online so whatever life throws at us, we can carry on supporting our community.  We strive to deliver many online forums to discuss everything peri-natal, including baby growth and development, Mother and Father mental health, CBT techniques to combat negative and worrying thoughts, financial advice and much more. 

“We are keen for families not to miss out on peri-natal classes so we have worked in partnership with many local businesses to offer courses in baby massage, baby yoga and buggy exercises.

“We want to welcome babies to be babies, so please do not be concerned about class times coinciding with sleep or feed times, or your baby crying during the session.”

All classes are free to attend. To book a class or for further details, please email Marie on marie.whiteland@ymcanorfolk.org

YMCA Norfolk are thrilled to announce that they have appointed John Lee as their new CEO, following a rigorous recruitment process by the charity’s Board of Trustees last week.

John, who is based in Norfolk, currently works with Spurgeons Norwich Connect where he set up, led and tested the pioneering “Whole Picture, Whole Family” approach to domestic abuse – a national pilot facilitating direct responses to the voice of victims.

John joins YMCA Norfolk with a wealth of experience within Norfolk’s third sector – having previously worked as the Head of Services and Quality at the Matthew Project, leading their work with young people and veterans affected by substance misuse. At the Matthew Project his role included governance, risk management and safeguarding.

While at Norfolk Family Carers, John set up Norfolk’s first Young Adult Carers service supporting young people to achieve their goals while providing unpaid care for a family member.

John commented on his new CEO appointment: “At a time when the challenges young people and their families face are increasing, the mission of YMCA Norfolk to enable the transformation of young people is absolutely vital. The barriers to young people and families accessing housing, education and employment support have increased due to Covid-19. 

“I am honoured to lead YMCA Norfolk’s response to breaking down the barriers which hinder young people from reaching their full potential. YMCA Norfolk has an incredible legacy over the last 175 years and most recently under the leadership of Tim Sweeting.

I look forward to working with the team and building on this legacy to ensure that young people have a hope filled future.”

John is passionate about breaking down the barriers for young people and families accessing support and enabling them to reach their full potential.  

He has previously served as a trustee for YMCA Norfolk between 2015 – 2018, where he took on the role of governance lead for safeguarding. He is actively involved in the life of his local church.

Philip Macdonald, who led the recruitment process on behalf of the board of trustees, commented: “As a Board of Trustees, we are very excited to have appointed John Lee to lead the YMCA forward in this next season. His broad range of skills and passion to make a difference to the lives of young people shone through in an intensive selection process involving a national field of candidates.

“There are huge pressures on Norfolk’s young people and families, and the YMCA is needed more than ever to support their wellbeing as we emerge from lockdown. With this key appointment, we are confident that we will be in a great position to make a difference at this critical time.”

John will work alongside YMCA Norfolk’s board of trustees and directors, as well as over 100 staff members, to lead and develop the charity which has experienced a period of exciting growth in recent years – allowing them to expand their services and increase the impact of operations.

Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, YMCA Norfolk demonstrated a year of unprecedented progress through the opening of its brand-new community hub on Aylsham Road, Norwich.

The multi-service facility has already proven to be a huge success with the local community, offering a 90-place Ofsted registered nursery alongside Explorers Soft Play and Williams’ Kitchen – praised as a much-needed asset to the local area.

Tim Sweeting, current CEO of YMCA Norfolk, will be taking up the position of Diocesan Secretary with the Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance (NDBF) in September this year.

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.