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…

May


12

Michael triumphs through his setbacks

In 2008, aged just 17, Michael was struck down with an unknown virus that left him paralysed from the chest down and with a severe visual impairment. Michael had to adjust to life in a wheelchair and in order to build up his upper body strength and general fitness joined YMCA Thames Gateway’s gym. Michael became a familiar face in…

May


12

Claire goes from strength to strength through exercise

On a holiday to South Africa in 2007, Claire visited a women’s shelter that helped women and children that had suffered abuse.  Sadly the facility was in a poor state with rubbish stacked up everywhere. Up until this point Claire had been feeling quite low after the loss of her mother but witnessing for herself…

May


12

Our cancer referral programme is transforming lives

Claire is 44 years old and has two children, aged 13 and 10. She is a full time mum.  In February 2016, Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The following April she had a single mastectomy and following that, radiotherapy. Prior to this diagnosis, Claire was struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome and had to take…

May


12

Stroke rehab programme transforming lives in the local community

Every week we provide specialist rehabilitation classes for people who are recovering from strokes, cancer and other life-limiting conditions. Leslie is a familiar face at our Romford hub and goes to the gym, seated rehab classes, and plays Boccia. Les aged 63, had a stroke three years ago which left him with very little movement…