Chaplaincy Services
YMCA Norfolk has a Chaplaincy service that is available to all of our clients, volunteers and staff.
YMCA Norfolk is a Christian charity, so our Chaplain(s) hold an active Christian faith. However, we are here to provide pastoral and spiritual support for people of all faiths and none.
What do YMCA Chaplains do?
We support staff by:
1. Offering a confidential, non-judgemental listening ear for all staff of all faiths and none.
2. Offering spiritual support and pastoral care through personal and work-related challenges.
We support clients by:
1. Offering a confidential, non-judgemental listening ear for clients of all faiths and none.
2. Offering spiritual support and pastoral care through times of crisis and challenge.
3. For those who want it, offering prayer and support connecting with local churches.
We run regular, activity-based drop-ins at our residences and offer one-to-one support by being available for walks or a chat over a hot drink.
We may not be able to fix problems, but we can give support and pray for people should they want it. If you want a confidential chat or to “sound off” about anything that is happening at work or at home, we are very good at listening.
Testimonials
“Whilst going through a very emotional and stressful time I was initially reluctant to ask for help or even to just to talk to someone. This difficult time was compounded by having work responsibilities that rely on a positive attitude by YMCA front line staff. The Chaplaincy team were extremely understanding during a very stressful time in where I also felt I had to re-evaluate my career path, I was eventually able to get through a very difficult time with her help and support and have since been able to move forward.” – YMCA Staff Member
“My experiences with Megan have all been very positive. She is open minded, great at listening and talking, and offers great advice in many areas.” – YMCA Resident
Meet The Team
Megan (pictured) heads up our Chaplaincy team. She moved to Norwich for a Christian training course in 2021 and has been here ever since! She worships and serves on the leadership team at Oak Grove Community Church in Norwich. She loves swimming and her beverage of choice is hot chocolate!
Beyond Megan, there are also volunteer chaplains who support our work providing spiritual guidance and advice across Norfolk. You can get in touch with the team at chaplaincy@ymcanorfolk.org or send prayer requests to prayer@ymcanorfolk.org.
How you can help
We’d love your support through prayer in your local church. We offer prayer cards and resources to help you bring our needs to God and understand more about the work we do.
Volunteer Chaplaincy
We’re also looking for volunteer chaplains to provide a confidential, non-judgemental, listening ear to young people of all faiths and none, and to support those wishing to develop their spiritual journey. The role is Norwich-based, ideally offering around 2 hours per week.
If you’re a servant-hearted individual, committed to your Christian faith, and passionate about creating environments where young people can truly belong, contribute, and thrive, then we would love to hear from you!
To have an informal chat about the role and to discuss the application process, contact our Chaplain Megan via chaplaincy@ymcanorfolk.org