Join Us: Membership
To join Plymouth YMCA simply fill out our membership form and return it to any centre.
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Plymouth YMCA Christian Ethos
The YMCA is a leading Christian charity committed to supporting all young people, particularly in times of need.
Whilst many people who work or volunteer for the YMCA share a strong Christian faith, our ethos also warmly welcomes people of other faiths (or of no faith) to participate in activities, to volunteer, or to seek employment with the YMCA.
This ethos is enshrined in the work of the YMCA through the universal symbol of the red triangle which commits us to work with young people in body, mind and spirit.
By providing a place where friendships can be made and counsel sought, our activities aim to stimulate and challenge our members to improve their understanding of the world, themselves and of one another.
Plymouth YMCA seeks to put its faith into action.
What is the YMCA?
The YMCA is the largest and oldest youth charity in the world.
We believe that all young people deserve to have a safe place to live and the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The YMCA's vision is of an inclusive Christian Movement, transforming communities so that all young people truly belong, contribute and thrive. Yes, we’re faith-based, but everyone is welcome at the YMCA.
The YMCA has over 14,000 offices located in more than 125 countries around the world; and over 45 Million members.
There are 115 YMCAs in England, offering accommodation and support that enables a young person to live independently, grow, achieve and contribute to their community.
Each YMCA is an individual, self-governing charity that affiliates to YMCA England. Through this affiliation, YMCAs become part of the World Alliance of YMCAs.
YMCA England gives YMCAs a national voice, by speaking with government, key policy makers and national media. As a representative body, it is able to advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable young people in England.
YMCA England supports YMCAs by promoting high standards of working, sharing best practice, fundraising on their behalf, partnering with them to pilot new projects, and providing training opportunities for their staff and volunteers.
YMCA shops
Over 350 staff and around 800 volunteers work from our nationwide network of over 150 charity shops and warehouses. Find out more about YMCA shops.
Y Care International
Y Care International is the YMCA’s international relief and development agency. It works in partnership with YMCAs across the developing world to respond to the needs of the most disadvantaged young people.
In 1984 the National Council of the YMCA of England proposed a more sharply focused international strategy. The resulting organisation would be called Y Care International and would focus on development aid and education, working through YMCAs worldwide.
Terry Waite and two National Council of England employees, John Naylor and David Bedford, founded Y Care International in 1984 to support international relief and development work delivered through local YMCAs across the developing world. Terry Waite was its first Chair, with David Bedford as Director. Y Care International continued to be a subsidiary charity of the National Council of the YMCA of England.
In 2004 Chris Roles was appointed as Chief Executive, and in 2005 Y Care International became a fully independent charity, working through YMCAs worldwide, developing strong links with YMCA Area and World Alliances, and working in partnership with YMCAs in the UK and Ireland to encourage young people to engage in campaigns and global youth work.
International Development & Rugby
Young people aged 13-25 will kick-off a project in May with Plymouth YMCA and Plymouth Albion RFC to explore issues of international development through rugby. Plymouth YMCA has received £8000 of funding from Y Care International to deliver International Development and Rugby, a six month project created by Plymouth YMCA in partnership with Plymouth Albion RFC, Plymouth Shopper, Cross Rhythms Radio Plymouth, Plymouth Ghana Link and the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.
The 20 young people involved in the project have indicated they want to challenge their knowledge, skills and attitudes by using rugby to explore the international development issues of Poverty, Fair Trade, Justice and Unemployment- and how these issues relate to Ghana, Plymouth and young people.
Plymouth Albion RFC will provide professional coaches and staff enabling the group to learn about rugby and its philosophy; the administration of a rugby club; and the sport’s impact on the development of communities and individuals in Plymouth and Ghana.
Plymouth YMCA will help local youths by linking them with other young people through Ghana YMCA, the visiting 2012 Ghanaian Olympic Team, and other Ghanaian agencies to enable the exchange of world views and personal experiences.
The group of young people will create and produce a series of Community Matters radio programmes with Cross Rhythms Radio Plymouth and a campaign of monthly editorials with the Plymouth Shopper where they will challenge public views of development issues and young people; and share their learning and experiences.
The group will celebrate their experiences in September with a trip to London.
Plymouth YMCA is still recruiting young people onto the project. To apply or for more information please contact Tony Fuqua, at Plymouth YMCA, by calling 01752 201918, or emailing tony.f@plymouthymca.co.uk. www.plymouthymca.co.uk
Torpoint & Rame Sports Centre
01752 81 51 72
torpointcsc@plymouthymca.co.uk
Community Learning
01752 774 570
Community Learning
The Cabin Childcare Centre
01752 76 10 15
The Cabin Childcare Centre
Bachelors Hall
Discover Dartmoor