New central Norwich YMCA to open in January
 YMCA Norfolk and its development partners are pleased to announce that the new central Norwich YMCA, on Queens Road near the bus station, will open on schedule. Despite challenging times the project is due to be completed within budget.
The provision will focus on serving the critical needs of 16-25 year olds, both male and female, from across the county. The new YMCA will provide 34 en-suite bedrooms and support facilities including a restaurant, communal lounges and a fitness area.
YMCA Norfolk chief executive officer John Drake, said: “our mission is to invest in the most vulnerable in our community. We realise the desperate need for accommodation for these young men and women at risk. At long last we are glad we can offer quality en-suite accommodation for both young men and women.”
“YMCA Norfolk is appreciative of all its development partners: Flagship Housing, the main contractor Lovells and the support received from Norfolk County Council, Supporting People, Norwich City Council, Broadland District Council, South Norfolk District Council and local businesses, trusts and individuals who have contributed in helping us meet the challenging financial costs.”
The second phase of the imaginative and forward-looking project to replace the existing 90-bed hostel on St Giles, has been temporarily delayed as the sale of the existing premises cannot be completed at this time. The second phase intends to provide 40 self-contained flats on a site at Music House Lane.
Mr Drake said: “We are optimistic that despite these challenging times the sale will be concluded in the foreseeable future. The commercial property market has, like the residential market, been affected by the uncertain economic conditions and we know that it is a very different marketplace in which to be selling such a large property compared to six months ago.
“We wish to make it quite clear that this delay will not in any way affect the current delivery of services to over 80 young people currently receiving support 24/7 at our St Giles premises, it does however mean that our second site of 40 new move-on units will have to sit on the drawing board a little longer than we had anticipated.
“We still need to raise around £800,000 to complete the second phase and we are appealing to local people and businesses to help us reach our final target.”
Pictured above is the new central Norwich YMCA being built next to the Norwich Bus Station.
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