Nov


19

Christmas campaigns and events

Make it a December to remember! The past 19 months have been incredibly challenging and with rising inflation and cuts to universal credit, this year will be difficult for many people. Last year we were able to provide 2,259 presents to the most vulnerable and isolated members of our communities, thanks to the generosity of…

Nov


1

West Ham coaches visit YMCA Romford holiday club

On Tuesday 26th October, the Daggers Community Trust joined with West Ham Foundation to help two groups of young people from the local area find many ways to have a good time through fun multisport and educational activity. The coaches were joined by Officers from the Metropolitan Police TSG in the sports hall of the…

Oct


21

Celebrating Black History Month

Noel is #proudtobe a Gym Instructor for YMCATGG. He is also a fantastic advocate for YMCA and has been a Youth Ambassador, a Change Agent and a mentor to aspiring young YMCA leaders. Noel has recently become a mentor for 100 Black Men of London, a youth organisation dedicated to education, economic development, health & wellbeing…

Sep


14

Summer fun for Dartford families

YMCA Thames Gateway’s family fun day in Dartford’s Central Park proved to be a hit with local families last Friday.  The event, which was funded by Kent County Council as part of their pledge to reconnect children and young people with fun, healthy activities, the environment and their community, was free to the general public….

Sep


14

Affordable housing scheme welcomes first tenants

Innovative factory-built affordable housing scheme welcomes first tenants in the London Borough of Havering YMCA Thames Gateway Group, covering Essex, Kent and London, has officially opened its innovative new housing development, solving an affordable move-on accommodation problem its residents have long faced. Designed by renowned architecture practice, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), and engineered…

Jun


4

Coming together to support the homeless

YMCA Thames Gateway is pleased to share its merger with YMCA West Kent, enabling the two organisations to combine their strengths, skills, resources and knowledge to better serve the people and communities they work with across London, Kent and Essex. YMCA West Kent will become one of the branches operating as part of YMCA Thames…

Jun


4

Protecting our community

Advice around Covid-19 is changing daily and for most, self-isolating at home is something that is possible and fairly easy to do. Not for the 148 residents at the YMCA in Romford. Doctor Anil Mehta gives the AstraZeneca vaccine to a homeless person at the homeless accommodation YMCA in Romford, east London, Wednesday, Feb. 3,…

Jun


4

Sleep out and raise awareness of youth homelessness

For the very first time, YMCA Thames Gateway will come together with 11 other YMCAs across England to take part in a mammoth virtual Sleep Easy event on Friday, 26 March, with the aim of raising vital funds to help tackle the root causes of youth homelessness. And so, from 7pm on Friday 26 to…

May


12

What housing benefit cuts could mean for Romario’s future

Romario is a young person currently being supported by YMCA Thames Gateway.  He relies on Housing Benefit to pay for much of his rent and says that Housing Benefit gave him the springboard he needed to find work. Growing up, Romario had a difficult relationship with his dad. From the age of 15, he found…

May


12

Noel discovers a passion for fitness at the YMCA

Aged just 9, Noel lost his mum. Some years later his relationship with his father broke down and Noel became homeless. By chance, Noel popped into his local Connexions centre for some advice. He was then referred to the YMCA in Romford. Jobless, Noel started volunteering in the gym and soon realised a passion for…