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A Fundraising Evening to Support Young People Across Norfolk

Local businesses, supporters and community members are invited to a night of entertainment, fundraising and celebration this October.

YMCA Norfolk is delighted to launch The Wonder of You, a special fundraising evening taking place on Saturday 10 October 2026 at the Holiday Inn Norwich North. The event will bring together supporters from across Norfolk for a memorable night of live entertainment, dining and fundraising, all in aid of helping vulnerable young people reach their full potential.

The event aims to raise vital funds to support YMCA Norfolk’s work with young people facing challenges including homelessness, mental health difficulties and barriers to employment and education.

Event Details

Guests attending The Wonder of You will enjoy a delicious three-course meal, alongside live entertainment from The Blue Sueders, Norfolk’s premier seven-piece Elvis tribute band. Hosted by popular local presenter Olly Day, the evening promises a vibrant atmosphere filled with music, laughter and community spirit.

As well as the live entertainment, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a raffle and auction featuring a range of fantastic prizes and experiences. Every ticket purchased and every pound raised will help YMCA Norfolk continue providing safe accommodation, support services and opportunities for young people across the county.

Supporting Young People in Norfolk

Funds raised through The Wonder of You will directly support YMCA Norfolk’s ongoing work to empower young people and create brighter futures. Through housing, wellbeing support, employment programmes and personal development opportunities, YMCA Norfolk helps hundreds of young people each year build confidence, independence and resilience.

Events such as The Wonder of You play an important role in ensuring these essential services can continue to make a lasting difference in local communities.

Join Us for an Unforgettable Evening

YMCA Norfolk is encouraging individuals, local businesses and community groups to come together for what promises to be a fantastic evening while supporting a worthwhile cause.

Whether you’re looking for a fun night out, an opportunity to network with local businesses, or simply a chance to make a difference, The Wonder of You offers something for everyone.

For more information about the event and how to book tickets, click the button below

YMCA Norfolk refused to let young people wait for the support they needed.

Last week, YMCA Norfolk’s PTP project was named the winner of the inaugural Global Community Wellbeing Impact Award at the 21st YMCA World Council in Toronto, Canada, becoming the first organisation in the world to receive the honour. The project was selected ahead of strong competition from projects in Australia, Singapore and the United States.

Through its Professional Therapeutic Pathway (PTP), funded by the Norfolk & Suffolk Integrated Care Board, YMCA Norfolk has reduced mental health waiting times for children and young people from more than 12 months to under 55 days, offering more than 60 different pathways to wellbeing. Since 2023, the programme has changed more than 1,200 young lives.

The award celebrates projects that make an exceptional contribution to improving wellbeing in their communities.

Judges praised PTP’s innovative approach to reducing waiting times and its commitment to providing holistic, relationship-based care that supports young people and their families.

With an average of 80% of young people reporting improved wellbeing following support, the programme has become a powerful example of how flexible, person-centred approaches can transform access to mental health services and improve outcomes for young people.

Carlos Madjri Sanvee, Secretary General of World YMCA, said“The World YMCA Impact Awards honour some of the very best of YMCAs’ work all over the world. We received many high-quality submissions across the four pillars of our global strategy, Vision 2030, and YMCA Norfolk came out a very deserved winner under Community Wellbeing. The Therapeutic Pathways project perfectly illustrates what YMCA does – it transforms lives – and how we all loved what John Lee said when he received the award that ‘The YMCA is a place of hope and healing” 

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier said at the awards ceremony. “I want to congratulate you, not just for what you have achieved, but for the choices you make every day, to serve.  Trust has to be earned locally year after year, and this is the way that the YMCA has earned its trust. The work that you in the YMCA lead is a genuine inspiration for what we in the UN are trying to achieve on the global level”

John Lee, Chief Executive of YMCA Norfolk, said:

“This award is international recognition of the difference being made here in Norfolk. We are incredibly proud to be the first organisation to receive the Global Community Wellbeing Impact Award.

It reflects the outstanding work of our PTP team and therapists, and exemplifies the shared values, quality and commitment that run throughout YMCA Norfolk.

YMCA Norfolk has been recognised not just for delivering therapy, but for our belief in relationships, supporting families, seeing the whole person and never giving up on a young person. It is hugely encouraging to see those values recognised on the world stage.”

The award was presented at the YMCA World Council in Toronto (19–25 July 2026), the largest gathering of the global YMCA movement. More than 1,300 delegates from over 100 YMCAs worldwide attended the event, making this recognition a significant achievement on an international stage. 

As temperatures continue to rise, many of us are feeling the effects of the hot weather.

We’re sleeping with the windows open, running fans day and night, and searching for the coolest room in the house. Even with these comforts, the heat can leave us feeling exhausted, irritable and overwhelmed.

Now imagine facing that same heat with nowhere to go.

For people experiencing homelessness, or living in temporary accommodation, a heatwave is more than an inconvenience, it can be dangerous. There may be no cool place to escape to, no fan, no cold drink waiting in the fridge and no easy access to the basics that many of us take for granted.

The Hidden Dangers of Hot Weather

When we think about severe weather and homelessness, our minds often turn to freezing winter nights. However, extreme heat can pose just as many risks.

Long periods spent outdoors can increase the likelihood of dehydration, heat exhaustion and severe sunburn. Accessing drinking water, keeping medications cool, finding shade and getting adequate rest can all become significant challenges during a heatwave.

For those living on the streets, every day can become a struggle simply to stay safe and well.

Small Acts of Kindness Can Make a Big Difference

The good news is that helping someone during hot weather doesn’t always require a financial donation.

Simple acts of kindness can have a real impact on a person’s wellbeing and safety.

You could:

• Offer a bottle of water.
• Share spare sunscreen.
• Give away a hat or other sun protection you no longer need.
• Take a moment to check on someone you regularly see and ask if they’re okay.
• Signpost someone to local support services or public spaces where they can cool down.
• Contact emergency services if someone appears seriously unwell or in immediate danger.

These small gestures can provide comfort, dignity and, in some cases, prevent a medical emergency.

Looking Out for One Another

We understand that extreme weather affects everyone. Looking after yourself and your family can feel challenging enough when temperatures soar.

But if you’re able to, we encourage you to take a moment to think about those around you who may be facing even greater difficulties.

A kind word, a bottle of water or a simple check-in can make someone feel seen and supported at a time when they may feel invisible.

How YMCA Norfolk Is Helping

At YMCA Norfolk, we work every day to support vulnerable people across our communities. Through accommodation, support services and opportunities for personal development, we help individuals experiencing homelessness build safer and more positive futures.

However, we cannot do this alone.

Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, fundraise or simply help raise awareness of the challenges people face during extreme weather, your support helps us continue our work and reach those who need us most.

Together, we can make sure that nobody is forgotten during this heatwave.

Today, YMCA Norfolk is announcing a £249,808 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to save, share and celebrate our 170 years of social history, ensuring this important heritage is preserved and made accessible for future generations.

Founded in Norwich in 1856, YMCA Norfolk has supported local communities for nearly two centuries. They’ve stood alongside young people through wars, the Great Flood of 1912, economic hardship, a global pandemic and profound social change. Despite this long and significant history, much of YMCA Norfolk’s social heritage remains undocumented and at risk of being lost.

The project, Belonging Through Time – YMCA Norfolk at 170, will uncover hidden histories, untold stories and unsung heroes from the charity’s past. By capturing the voices and lived experiences of former and current service users, staff and volunteers, the project will create a lasting legacy to share the impact YMCA Norfolk has had throughout the county.

Without this funding, large parts of YMCA Norfolk’s history, much of which exists only in personal memories, could disappear. This project will safeguard their heritage and transform access to it, enabling people across Norfolk to connect with YMCA Norfolk’s longstanding service within the community.

Over two years, the project will employ dedicated heritage staff and involve both the community and children, young people and families in shaping and co-producing its outputs. It will deliver three public exhibitions across Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn, alongside a ten-episode podcast series and documentary-style video capturing stories from past and present. A 170-year heritage book will be produced and distributed across the county, complemented by a heritage walk in Norwich that will highlight key locations. Educational resource packs will be distributed to primary schools, while photographs, artefacts and oral histories will be collected, digitised and preserved as part of a lasting archive. Together, these outputs will ensure YMCA Norfolk’s heritage is both safeguarded and widely accessible.

Young people currently engaging within YMCA Norfolk’s services, particularly those who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion, will play an active role in researching, collecting and interpreting YMCA Norfolk’s heritage, developing skills in storytelling, oral history, research and digital media. This approach will ensure the heritage is not only preserved, but brought to life in inclusive and meaningful ways.

The project will explore key themes from YMCA Norfolk’s history, including how they’ve created safe spaces for young people to belong, responded to times of crisis, continuously adapted to social change, and how all services have been shaped by youth voice. Together, these stories will demonstrate how the charity has continually evolved to meet young people’s needs throughout Norfolk whilst fostering belonging and resilience.

In the long term, the project will celebrate and strengthen pride in YMCA Norfolk’s 170-year legacy, deepen community connections, and ensure its rich social history is preserved and shared as a lasting asset for future generations

Susie Knights, Marketing and Fundraising Manager at YMCA Norfolk, said:
“This is an exciting project where we will unearth untold stories and the social history of YMCA Norfolk, which has played a significant role in the community for 170 years. We are looking forward to engaging with people across Norfolk to hear their stories and better understand how we have continually adapted to support young people in an ever-changing world. We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can preserve our heritage while inspiring future generations.”

Community members, former residents, volunteers and staff are encouraged to get involved by sharing their stories and taking part in project activities. If you have a story you’d like to share, please visit 170 Stories for 170 Years – YMCA Norfolk 

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

heritagefund.org.uk

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

Further information

For further information, images and interviews please contact Susie Knights at YMCA Norfolk at Susie.knights@ymcanorfolk.org

On Friday 6 March 2026, YMCA Norfolk will host Sleep Easy 2026, a powerful overnight fundraising event designed to shine a light on youth homelessness. For one night, participants will leave their warm beds to sleep under the stars, so they can experience a glimpse of life without a safe roof over their heads.

What Is Sleep Easy?

Sleep Easy is an annual YMCA-run nationwide challenge first launched in 2010. Since then, over 8,000 people across England and Wales have taken part, raising more than £1.7 million to fund vital local services.

At its core, Sleep Easy is about solidarity and awareness. Participants are not only fundraising, but also getting a tangible sense of the harsh conditions people experiencing homelessness endure nightly. In Norfolk alone, last year’s event included over 30 participants who braved the cold—all to support the 240 vulnerable young people YMCA Norfolk helps every night.

Why This Matters: The Homelessness Crisis in Context

Recent statistics paint a stark picture of the UK’s homelessness crisis:

• On a single autumn night in 2024, 4,667 people were recorded sleeping rough in England—a 20% increase from the previous year, and 91% higher than in 2021.
• Across the UK, an estimated 1 in every 200 households is facing homelessness through rough sleeping or temporary accommodation.
• More than 100,000 households in England were living in temporary accommodation as of late 2024, including 164,000 children, a 16% increase year-on-year.

These numbers reveal homelessness as not just a personal tragedy, but a deep social crisis. Young people, especially those escaping family breakdowns or mental health challenges, are among the most vulnerable.

The Norfolk Impact

In Norfolk, YMCA provides immediate relief and long-term support to 240 young people every night, offering services like:

• Emergency accommodation
• Counselling and mental health support
• Life coaching and employment guidance

Last year alone:

• 368 young people were accommodated
• 584 accessed counselling through YMCA’s therapeutic services
• 4,198 one-to-one support sessions were delivered

The funds raised through Sleep Easy go directly into these programmes supporting young people right here in Norfolk.

How to Take Part

• Sign up for Sleep Easy 2026 via the button below.
• Fundraise and spread the word to friends, family, and colleagues.
• Sleep rough on 6 March at Norfolk’s Community Hub—or host your own local version of Sleep Easy.
• Share your experience to raise awareness and encourage others to join.

A Night That Changes Lives

Sleep Easy is more than a fundraiser. It’s a moment of empathy, a catalyst for change, and a bridge between comfort and crisis. It reminds us that even one cold night without shelter can fracture a young life—and that together, we can bridge the gap.

Join us in Norfolk on 6 March to swap comfort for compassion—for just one night, so others don’t have to go without every night. Your presence, your voice, and your support make all the difference.

👉 Find out more and sign up today at – YMCA NORFOLK SLEEP EASY 2026 | YMCA Norfolk (Powered by Donorbox)

October was nothing short of epic for Viki, who has officially completed her incredible challenge, “Viki’s Journey.” Over 31 days, she pushed her limits and raised awareness for YMCA Norfolk, covering an astonishing 200 miles—the approximate circumference of Norfolk—through a mix of walking, cycling, running, abseiling, and even zip-wiring.

Her adventure was packed with unforgettable moments:

• Early starts: Many mornings began at 5:30am to fit in miles before work and counselling placements.
• Thrill-seeking: Abseiling down The Forum and soaring on a zip wire.
• Summit success: Conquering Snowdon—up and down!
• New passions: Falling in love with road cycling on her new bike.
• Mental health advocacy: Walking and talking on World Mental Health Day.
• Meaningful visits: Exploring the National Memorial Arboretum and discovering the YMCA Memorial.
• Personal growth: Reigniting her love for physical activity and adventure.

Although the challenge is complete, it’s not too late to support Viki’s efforts and the vital work of YMCA Norfolk. Every donation helps make a difference.

Share and donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/vikisjourney

Let’s celebrate Viki’s achievement and keep the momentum going to support communities across Norfolk!

Learn More & Get Involved

If you or someone you know is facing homelessness or struggling to find a way forward, you’re not alone. Get in touch to learn more about our services, success stories, and how you can support our mission.

Contact us at info@ymcanorfolk.org
Visit www.ymcanorfolk.org/legacies for more information.

Together, we can build a future where every young person in Norfolk has the chance to thrive.