YMCA Norfolk

YMCA Norfolk

Helping young people towards a brighter future

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Harriet King

YMCA Heritage and History Roadshow comes to Norfolk

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

Representing YMCA globally; an Interview with Norfolk’s Charlie Smith, Young Leader of the Year

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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!

“An outstanding YMCA leader” – tributes paid to Richard Jarrold

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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.

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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.

Alex’s story: ‘being part of the YMCA community has transformed my life’

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Alexandra Waters, YMCA Norfolk client, moved into YMCA accommodation earlier this year after fleeing a verbally abusive relationship with an ex.

After engaging in a huge range of positive activities within YMCA over the last 7 months, she wants to share her story and inspire others to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities offered to clients at YMCA Norfolk:

“I moved into the YMCA on 5th March of this year, after fleeing a verbally abusive relationship. I was living in a shared house with him, I wasn’t eating properly and was feeling ill pretty much all the time.

It was a horrible environment to be in, especially seeing as we were having at least 2-4 arguments a day and during these arguments I would get verbally abused as well. I couldn’t handle the situation I was in and wanted to flee which led to a mutual friend bringing me into the YMCA so that they could house me.

I have been involved with YMCA Norfolk for over 7 months now. They have helped me so much by giving me a safe place to live, food, clean towels to use and keep. They have also given me so much support and help with my understanding of my PTSD and how I can manage it in a much better way than I ever thought possible.

So far, I am more confident within myself through engaging in positive activities and socialising in and out of the YMCA. I have passed a Joy of Food course, as well as taking part in Ascend Adventure open days and taster days for their Life Craft course that they are running.

My hopes for the future are to be able to maintain my current accommodation, with the aim to then move to a private rented property or council property to further my independence. One of my other hopes is to continue being a part of the Ascend Adventure community and to bring more positivity to my life.

It has started to make a massive difference to my life; I’ve been able to get my life back on the right track again, with the help and support of the staff here. I’ve been able to make decisions for myself when it comes down to doctor’s appointments and whether I should go or not.

I regularly go to the doctors at least once or twice a month now, whereas before I wasn’t massively concerned about my physical and mental health. YMCA has opened my eyes to a new better way of life and how I can look after myself in so many different positive ways.

My favourite experience so far is the days out that we do such as local museums, my favourite is Time and Tide museum. I am currently attending a Gardening Course, learning so much more than just how to garden. We are working much more efficiently ways by reusing, recycling and repurposing.

I have so much fun just by being a part of a community within YMCA with a wonderful group of people who I can call my friends. I know that whenever I need them…they are there for me.”

YMCA Norfolk joins the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda

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YMCA Norfolk have pledged to launch their plans for sustainable development in the new year, in line with the UN’s 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.

The UN devised 17 Sustainable Goals at the New York Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, stating the goals are an ‘urgent call for action by all countries – developed in global partnership.’

The aim of the agenda is to recognise that ending poverty must go ‘hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.’

At the global YMCA 175 event this summer, YMCA World Alliance promoted the SDGs and informed attendees on how YMCA as a whole can be involved in supporting them.

Following this, YMCA Norfolk devised their own ‘SDG’ team, consisting of:

Dale Starbuck – Youth Engagement Worker and YMCA Change Agent

Robert Canniffe – YMCA Norfolk Performance and Impact Officer

Catherine Watling – YMCA Norfolk Staff Health and Wellbeing Officer

James Lamont – Senior Youth Engagement Worker (Housing)

Charlie Wall – Senior Youth Engagement Worker (Communities)

Amy Chenery – Families Team Engagement Worker

Ben Rafalski – Youth Engagement Worker (Housing)

Charlie and Catherine discussed YMCA Norfolk’s movement towards sustainability at the 2019 Annual Celebration on November 7, asking staff and supporters to vote for one of the three sustainable development goals;

  1. Climate Action
  2. No Poverty
  3. Zero Hunger

Following the vote, it was decided that No Poverty would be the focus point for YMCA Norfolk, reflecting the organisation’s approach to equality and goal to end rough sleeping.

Charlie Wall said:

“We are beyond proud to say that we have signed the pledge to be 100% committed to working towards a Sustainable Future. We recognise that working towards small changes will eventually amount to something incredible.

“Keep an eye on YMCA Norfolk’s website and social media for our full SDG plan, launching January 2020.”

Chef Bobby tells his incredible transformation from service user to staff member

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Bobby, former YMCA Norfolk client, has recently started working as a Chef at our Stepping Stones Café by Norwich bus station. We spoke to him about his amazing transformation from service user to staff member, and how he wants to be an inspiration to the YMCA young people he now works with:

“When I was 18-years-old I was kicked out of home because I had fallen into the wrong crowd, and became involved with drugs and drinking. I moved to the YMCA hostel on St Giles in 2005 – which was an 80 bed hostel at the time.

Two months into my stay at YMCA I was sent to prison for getting into a fight – but YMCA said they would save a room for me upon my release. When returning to YMCA Norfolk, Martin Rye (currently a YMCA housing manager), was made my support worker.

Unfortunately, I was still the same naive 18-year-old who thought I knew a lot more about life than I did. Due to repeatedly being caught with alcohol at the hostel, I was evicted eight months after my return to St. Giles.

I was on a downwards spiral and in 2007 I was sent back to prison for 90 days for a theft-related crime. Upon release, I met the mother of my child –  and in May 2008 we had a little girl together.

Three years later, the relationship broke down. We were both still very young, and it became extremely volatile. It was a mutual decision that I left the family home, but I still had access to our child.

Following this, in May 2011, I ended up coming back to YMCA at St. Giles. However, this time around, I had a totally different attitude after having my daughter – she was now the most important thing in my life. I kept myself to myself and made sure I didn’t fall into the wrong crowd.

I did everything my support worker asked of me at the time. I engaged in everything I possibly could, including education and training; undergoing a stewarding/security course for two months.

If I could give one piece of advice to our current YMCA clients, It would be the importance of engagement. If you want to get the most out of the service, you need to be proactive and engage in what your support worker offers you.

The YMCA offers you a lot of opportunities, you need to take advantage of as many of them as you can. Grab education with both hands – because after 19 it isn’t free anymore! Maths, English, Sports, any subject – just grab anything you can, because it’s so important later in life.

I moved out of YMCA in December 2011, only 7 months after re-entering the service, because I was ready to move on to independent living. I was provided with a council flat, which was the first real sense of independence I had – I began cooking for myself and really taking care of myself. Suddenly, I had grown up. I saw my little girl once a week, and me and my former partner were on better terms.

I had a few qualifications, but not as many as I would’ve liked. So, I enrolled into a Catering course at City College in September 2012. It was a year-long course, and I felt like I had found my niche. Half way through my course I got a job at Loch Fyne restaurant on St. Giles as a chef. It was such a great job – everyone was really nice and friendly.

I’ve been a chef ever since. After six years of working evenings and weekends, sometimes 60 hour weeks, I was looking for something with more sociable hours. I saw the role come up at Stepping Stones, applied for the position and was shortlisted for an interview. I came in and had a chat with Julie (YMCA Norfolk Catering Manager) – which was surreal as she cooked my meals 15 years ago as a resident.

I was offered the position and I now work as a full-time Chef at Stepping Stones Café. Working sociable hours is a real luxury, I have my evenings and weekends back and get to see my daughter more often than ever. We can finally spend quality time together, rather than in-between shifts.  

I was inspired to work for the YMCA after knowing what it’s like to be a service user. I know how difficult it can be, and working at Stepping Stones is the perfect balance of working in my industry at a chef, but also having interaction with our young people.

I’ve now been looking into part time Support Worker courses, because I’d love to be able to eventually give that support back to our clients. I want to inspire our young people not to make the same mistakes I made. It’s easy to fall on hard times, but everyone has the potential to turn their life around, especially with the help of YMCA Norfolk and their incredible staff.”