Youth Matters Awards
2025
Celebrate the achievements of Young People, Staff & Volunteers
The Youth Matters Awards showcases the outstanding achievements, inspiring feats against adversity and tireless dedication to creating change of YMCA’s across England & Wales.
We are absolutely thrilled to be through to the Youth Matters Awards Finals for a number of people and projects this year! These awards celebrate all the passion, hard work and dedication of our colleagues, residents and volunteers but we need YOUR help to bring home the trophies!
The winners are determined by a public vote and scored by a panel of independent judges. Every vote counts, so please vote for YMCA Norfolk across our categories for this year which can be found below:
Since stepping into her role as Deputy Nursery Manager at Muddy Puddles Nursery, Sara has exemplified what it means to be a young leader. Her journey from practitioner to deputy manager gives her a unique ability to mentor others, as she brings a deep, lived understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by her team. This experience enables her to lead with empathy and credibility – qualities that have inspired others to grow alongside her.
Sara has particularly inspired young, inexperienced staff by identifying their potential and coming alongside them in their development – two of whom are now undertaking apprenticeships as a direct result of her encouragement and support. She also works with each team member to identify each person’s strengths and specialisms, enabling them to lead in areas they’re passionate about. This has fostered a culture of ownership, pride, and professional growth across the team.
Her commitment to quality is unwavering. She reviews planning with a child-centred lens, constantly asking how practice can be improved. She works collaboratively with staff to reflect on their session plans, offering constructive feedback and advocating for further training where needed. Her leadership is grounded in reflection – drawing on both positive and challenging experiences to shape a leadership style that is supportive, aspirational, and empowering. Sara’s leadership extends beyond the nursery. She represents the setting confidently across YMCA Norfolk, earning praise for her professionalism and collaborative spirit. Her ability to step up in the manager’s absence ensures continuity and trust. She is a role model for young staff, demonstrating that with dedication and support, progression is possible. Her influence is embedded in the culture she helps shape – one of growth, inclusion, and excellence.
Housing & Life Ready work side by side to give young people more than just a place to stay – they offer a pathway to independence. Our housing provides a safe, stable home, often after periods of instability, trauma, or unsafe living conditions. Life Ready is a programme available to all residents, helping them develop the confidence, tools, and emotional resilience they need to live independently. Support is highly individualised, empowering each young person to reach their potential and celebrate their unique strengths.
This year across our three housing sites we delivered 262 sessions through a mix of workshops and positive activities. Workshops focused on essential skills such as healthy living, cooking, and money management, to equip young people with the knowledge they need to manage their own homes and lives. Alongside this, our positive activities including wellbeing walks, arts & wellbeing sessions, and board game socials, provided safe, supportive spaces for young people to build soft skills, social confidence, and community connections. In total, these sessions engaged 137 unique young people.
We also facilitated 481 coaching sessions where residents receive one-to-one support around their individual goals. As a result, young people have progressed into external mental health services, community projects, training and education, employment, and independent council accommodation.
One young person shared: “With my confidence I feel this has helped with every aspect of my life; social situations, day-to-day living, leaving the hostel, group sessions and my inner self.” By combining the security of housing with the personal growth offered by Life Ready, we create a powerful, holistic model that helps young people not just survive – but thrive.
Over the past year, YMCA Norfolk’s Dad’s Breakfast Club has delivered 3 cohorts of an innovative 8-week programme supporting 20 fathers and their young children through a unique blend of peer support, expert-led workshops, and play-based bonding. Sessions explored themes such as emotional regulation, stress management, work-life balance, healthy lifestyles, co-parenting, sleep routines, and bonding through play—equipping dads with practical tools and a supportive community.
What sets this project apart is its father-focused, community-led approach. It filled a critical gap in early years support by centring dads’ voices and needs—something often overlooked in mainstream parenting services. The club also broke down barriers for racially minoritised and low-income fathers by offering free, culturally sensitive support in a welcoming environment. One cohort was made up entirely of dad’s who identified as being from racially minoritised backgrounds, many of whom said it was the first time they felt truly seen and included in a parenting space.
All participants reported increased confidence in their parenting, stronger emotional bonds with their children, and a greater sense of wellbeing. Many described feeling less isolated and more empowered to engage in everyday parenting. Feedback directly shaped the programme—leading to more hands-on activities and increased peer-led discussions. One participant shared: “It’s the first time I’ve been around other dads who just get it. It’s not always easy to talk to friends or family, but this group felt safe and welcoming. Now I play with my daughter more, I talk to her more, and I feel like I’m the dad I wanted to be.” Dad’s Breakfast Club demonstrates the value of inclusive, father-focused support in shaping stronger, more resilient families.
The Professional Therapeutic Pathway (PTP) is a transformative waitlist initiative that has significantly improved access to mental health support for young people across Norfolk.
In the last 12 months PTP has worked with over 250 young people, many had been on an NHS waiting list for over a year. Through PTP, this was reduced to an average of just 63 days from referral to first appointment, with initial contact often within 15 days.
PTP’s innovative model offers a diverse range of over 60 therapists and organisations, providing tailored support through talking, creative, occupational, and CBT therapies – both in-person and online. This flexibility ensures young people receive the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time; especially those with complex or contested needs who are often excluded from traditional services. PTP sees the person, not the diagnosis, and works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure no one is left behind.
84% of clients completing paired scores showed measurable improvement through PTP’s support. PTP’s relational approach is equally vital; Young people are actively involved in shaping their support. If they’re unsure about therapy, engagement workers can meet them in at home or school to explore their needs. If therapy isn’t the right fit, they’re offered alternatives or placed on hold with a clear route back – avoiding retraumatisation from re-entering long waiting lists and reinforcing that support will be there when they’re ready. PTP proves that when services are flexible, inclusive, and relational; no young person is too complex, too uncertain, or too late to be supported.
How to vote
The public vote is now live and is open until Monday 25th August 2025. Click the button below to vote now!
We are absolutely thrilled to have won 3 awards in 2024 including our local YMCA being YMCA of the Year! Find out more about the projects below.
This award recognises a YMCA that in the last year has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and the wider community.
YMCA Norfolk supported more than 21,500 individuals and provided 382 young people with a safe place to live across Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn over the last 12 months.
As well as our nominated projects detailed below (Umbrella, Professional Therapeutic Pathway and the E-Learning Service), a number of our other projects and interventions have had significant impact on the local communities we serve across the last year.
The SOS Bus, focusing on the provision of preventative measures, first aid assistance, and aid for the homeless in Kings Lynn, saved the NHS an estimated £20,600 in the last year.
YMCA Norfolk’s Life Ready project supported over 75 young people to gain vital life skills and prepare them for their future, and recently received £500,000 funding to extend across Norfolk for an additional three years.
Over 450 youth club sessions were delivered around Norfolk last year.
The Community Hub welcomed over 67,000 visitors to Williams’ Kitchen café and over 40,000 visits to Explorers Soft Play to date.
The hub is also home to the free weekly parent and baby group, and Muddy Puddles Nursery which enrolled 147 children and continues to receive amazing feedback from parents and carers.
YMCA Norfolk is proud of its growing expansion within staff, support, and services and looks forward to having a continued impact on the Norfolk community.
This award recognises a YMCA that has delivered an innovative and inspiring Training & Education project that has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and/or the wider community.
What is the E-Learning Service?
The E-Learning Service (ELS) is a unique online-based education service that provides bespoke provision for individual students based on their learning needs, ability levels and school course. It is primarily targeted to students who are unable to access mainstream education due to medical needs and mental health challenges, special educational needs and disabilities, or other barriers in accessing mainstream education.
Since 2003, ELS has provided online education to several thousands of pupils; most of whom have reintegrated back into school or continued with their exams, including 312 students in the last year alone. All lessons are delivered by qualified teachers who are specialists in their subjects. Lessons can be completed at any time of the day or week which is particularly valuable for those with SEMH, ME and ASD or students with anxiety. ELS has also been used successfully for groups of students working alongside one another in school and in inclusion units.
In addition to three one-hour lessons each week, students have access to a time-tabled one-hour weekly live chat tutorial in each of their subjects; this gives them an opportunity to instant message their subject teacher to get direct help with any work issues.
A parent of an ELS student said, “The level of service and support is outstanding to both student and parent, going above and beyond for the benefit of the student.” ELS has been a transformational service for thousands of young people, providing a unique and vital alternative provision for education.
This award recognises a YMCA that has delivered an innovative and inspiring Family & Youth Work project that has had a tangible and positive impact on young people and/or the wider community.
What is Umbrella?
The Umbrella Service is a key housing provision within YMCA Norfolk. They provide accommodation for single parent families (of all genders), with access to 24-hour assistance alongside intensive family support in both Norwich and Great Yarmouth for up to two years. Support is provided in wide range of areas including budgeting and finance, substance misuse, mental and physical health, and education.
In the last year, 46 individuals were supported, representing 20 young parent families. According to the residents’ annual survey, 100% of them reported they believe YMCA are helping transform their lives. One young parent was an ex-drug user at risk of losing their child. Through the support of the Umbrella team, they were approved for personal independence payment (PIP), accessed GP services for themselves and enrolled their son into nursery. These factors significantly contributed to the positive result of their social work assessment which resulted in the family staying together. Another parent had fled domestic violence with their young child, while pregnant. The Umbrella team supported her to access food banks, emergency gas and electric grants and the baby bank. They also provided counselling and mediation support, so she was able to begin rebuilding relationships with her family and move towards independence.
These are but a few of the transformations the Umbrella service has seen in the lives of young families in Norfolk.
Thanks Stephen
“You’ve been incredibly adept at dealing with my council issues, and even managed to get me photographic ID which we didn’t think was possible.”
Thanks Jo
“You have been so much more help than you’ll ever know. You are fantastic at your job and I can’t praise you enough. You have been our rock and a part of the family.”
Thanks Sharon
“You have been my biggest supporter and made me realise I’m not alone.”
Thanks Frankie
“You have taught me how to properly clean and maintain a home, and she have supported me with my emotions.”