YMCA Bournemouth recently received a grant of £43,621 from Nationwide, to enable them to deliver a project to support ‘single homeless’ individuals into their own rented accommodation as they return to independent living after their stay with YMCA Bournemouth.
100% of the people the YMCA supports are single and between the ages of 18 – 65 and have been street homeless or vulnerably housed.
YMCA Bournemouth’s “move-on coach,” will work with individuals helping them navigate a way to independent living, especially those who have been with YMCAB longer than 2 years or seem “stuck” and lack the confidence and life-skills to make the move towards full independence. YMCA Bournemouth are looking to help those hardest to reach whose barriers to moving-on are more than financial. Additional barriers might include: substance abuse, financial literacy, poor life-skills, mental health issues and past trauma. Weekly sessions with the ‘move-on coach’ will take a person-centred approach until the client moves-on and up to six months holistic support thereafter. The project will also include the provision of move-on ‘deposits’, loaned to negate financial barriers as well as having a sustainable element via training cascaded down to staff.
Dr Gareth Sherwood, YMCA Bournemouth’s CEO said: “We are blown away by the kindness and generosity of Nationwide and their lovely staff over so many years. This compassionate gift will help us transform the opportunities of our residents, helping them move on to a better future in their lives.”
Kirsty Hall, Social Investment Manager at Nationwide Building Society, said: “Helping local communities and charities is at the heart of what it means to be a building society for Nationwide. We’re pleased our Community Grants programme is going to make a difference through this £43,621 grant to YMCA Bournemouth, helping them make a difference to the lives of those who rely on their services.”
Pic L-R
Lindsey New – Branch Manager Bournemouth / Chloe Smith – Branch Manager Bournemouth / Dr Gareth Sherwood – CEO YMCA Bournemouth
About YMCA Bournemouth
YMCA Bournemouth has helped tens of thousands of individuals across Dorset for 140 years through its extensive range of services, which include housing support, youth clubs, one-to-one counselling, and training courses. The organisation exists to provide people with opportunities to know their value, know they belong, thrive in their passions, and live with purpose; while enabling them to grow and contribute to society.
YMCA Bournemouth has more than a dozen sites including dedicated accommodation on Westover Road, providing short-term supported housing for men and women aged 18 and over. It also owns and manages two leisure sites – Lifewise Fitness Suite on Westover Road, due to reopen later this year following a complete refurbishment, and The Junction Sports and Leisure Centre in Broadstone.
In 2022, YMCA Bournemouth supported and housed 175 individuals, hosted more than 1,000 counselling sessions, and delivered 1,587 hours of support sessions through its child contact centres. It also helped more than 250 adults gain recognised training qualifications. As of March 2023, the charity’s gym and leisure facility, The Junction in Broadstone, had more than 3,300 adult members and over 350 members aged 11-17 years old
Website – https://www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ymcabournemouth
Twitter – https://twitter.com/YMCABournemouth