Ambassadors such as former YMCA Norfolk Chief Executive and Norwich Sheriff John Drake (pictured right) and John Rockliff, who has a long history of supporting the YMCA both locally and nationally, are happy to visit churches, schools and other community groups in Norfolk to talk about the important work and Christian mission of the association.
Former YMCA Norfolk Chairman and Methodist lay preacher, David Ingham, is also an ambassador along with the Reverend Janet Wyer (pictured below), Associate Priest at St Peter Mancroft and Chaplain to the association.
David can tell groups the story of shop-assistant and draper George Williams who was considered a failure by his family and peers but whose straightforward faith and evangelical zeal has helped create what is now the biggest non-governmental organisation in the world, covering more than 119 countries and with about 30 million members – the Young Men’s Christian Association.
The YMCA’s activities began in Norwich over 150 years ago and continue today across Norfolk where every night over 240 otherwise homeless young men and women are cared for and given support to help them achieve a brighter future.
“The YMCA is one of the ways in which Christians in any community can pray, work and witness together to make a difference to the lives of some desperate young people,” said David. “And I am delighted to be able to tell all sorts of groups about the important work and the many different ways that they can become involved in it.
“George Williams realised that sharing the Gospel in acts of loving care can spread God’s Kingdom throughout the world and thereby help create a world-wide symbol of God’s love in Jesus Christ.”
If your group would like a tour of one of the YMCA Norfolk accommodation facilities, an ambassador would be pleased to help show you around.
To arrange a visit by a YMCA Norfolk Ambassador or a tour of one of our accommodation facilities, please contact Susie Knights at susieknights@ymca-norfolk.org.uk or on 07967 741103.
(Author: )Umbrella Housing in transfer to YMCA Norfolk
Norwich-based supported housing group Umbrella Housing has announced the transfer of its housing stock and operations to YMCA Norfolk with immediate effect. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk honours its outstanding staff
YMCA Norfolk staff from across the county have been honoured for outstanding service to the Christian charity in an annual awards and celebration event. (Author: )
Yarmouth fun day highlights work to tackle hate crime
Young people from a YMCA Norfolk backed project in Great Yarmouth staged a community fun day with a difference recently. (Author: )
YMCA's sporting appeal to Norfolk churches
YMCA Norfolk has issued an appeal for local churches and youth groups who are interested in putting on Community Games events, to get in touch, as support and finance is available to help them get off the ground. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk Carol Service December 2012
Residents, supporters and staff gathered at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich city centre for the annual YMCA Norfolk Carol Service on December 6. (Author: )
500 from Norwich join YMCA world record bid
Over 500 people in Norwich took part in a YMCA World Basketball Challenge event on October 13, aiming to help set a new world record. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk celebrates a year of growth
YMCA Norfolk celebrated a year of growth and development, told through the words of its staff, partners and the young people it works with, at the Open Venue in Norwich on October 25. (Author: )
Video tells story of Stepping Stone Cafe and MyPlace
A new video released at the YMCA Norfolk AGM and Celebration on October 25 tells one of the many individual stories behind the Stepping Stone Cafe social enterprise scheme and the new MyPlace accommodation facility, both in Norwich. (Author: )
£4.4m Norwich homeless project MyPlace opens
YMCA Norfolk’s £4.4m MyPlace development of 40 self-contained flats for young homeless people on Bethel Street in Norwich city centre, was officially launched at a civic reception on Friday September 7. (Author: )
Olympic boxer helps youngsters open Yarmouth mural
Olympic bronze-medal winning boxer Antony Ogogo, has helped a group of young people from Great Yarmouth open their graffiti mural in Cobholm, Great Yarmouth. (Author: )
New Norwich community café is a stepping stone
A new community café has opened in Norwich city centre, the result of an innovative social enterprise partnership between YMCA Norfolk and local businesses, in which young homeless people have played a vital role. (Author: )
£4.4m YMCA Norfolk MyPlace project is dedicated
A dedication and prayer service for the new YMCA Norfolk MyPlace development on Bethel Street in Norwich took place on Friday August 3, in preparation for the first residents moving into the 40 self-contained flats from Monday August 6. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk receive keys to £4.4m homeless project
The handover of YMCA Norfolk’s new £4.4m development of 40 self-contained flats for young homeless people in Norwich city centre, from housing developer Lovell, took place today, Tuesday July 31. (Author: )
Prince's community honour for YMCA Norfolk's Nigel
YMCA Norfolk project officer Nigel Graves has been honoured at a prestigious award ceremony as the community individual who has best collaborated with business to benefit society. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk duo join Olympic Torch relay
YMCA Norfolk duo Susie Knights and Rev Simon Stokes were right at the forefront of the Olympic Torch celebrations as the flame passed through Norfolk on July 4 and 5. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk shop team join in carnival fun
It was carnival time in the West Norfolk resort of Hunstanton recently and the team from the local YMCA Shop joined in the fun – with the help of a London choir. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk helps Greg go from homeless to dream job
Greg Matthews has just been awarded an outdoors instructor apprenticeship, but just a few months ago he was homeless and out on the streets of Norwich, which was when YMCA Norfolk stepped in. (Author: )
£1m raised as Norwich homeless project set to open
A public appeal to raise £1m, to complete the funding for a £4.4m development of 40 self-contained flats for young homeless people in Norwich city centre, has been reached, with the doors due to open in early August. (Author: )
Help us improve website and have chance to win
YMCA Norfolk would like your help to make sure that our website effectively provides the information you and other visitors need about our broad range of work. (Author: )
YMCA's magnificent seven complete charity ride
A magnificent seven YMCA Norfolk members - six residents and one staff member - have completed a 50km bike ride at Fitness First Norwich to raise over £500 for Sport Relief 2012. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk pays tribute to Taffy Khan
Following the tragic death of YMCA Norfolk resident Tafadzwa (Taffy) Khan, aged 25, on Sunday (March 18), YMCA Norfolk Chief Executive, Tim Sweeting, paid tribute. (Author: )
How to get your copy of the Right Tracks album
A group of YMCA residents and staff have teamed up with youth arts organisation Culture Works East to create a completely original charity album from the cover design to the lyrics and all eight music tracks. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk team set to release charity album
A group of YMCA Norfolk residents and staff have teamed up with Norwich-based youth arts organisation Culture Works East to create a completely original charity album. (Author: )
Norwich council loan boosts YMCA project
A £400,000 loan from Norwich City Council to YMCA Norfolk will part fund the build of move-on accommodation for a number of homeless and vulnerable young people in Norfolk. (Author: )
YMCA charity shop reopens in centre of Diss
A charity shop supporting the vital work of the YMCA has re-opened in the South Norfolk market town of Diss, some 14 months after the original store closed when its let ran out. (Author: )
Carols mark start of Christmas at YMCA Norfolk
Residents, staff and supporters of YMCA Norfolk celebrated the real meaning of Christmas at a joyful carol service held at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich last night (December 6). (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk stages celebration with a difference
Opened by a juggler, closed by a would-be rock singer and staged in a nightclub, YMCA Norfolk put on an AGM with a difference in Norwich last night (October 18). (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk honours its outstanding staff
YMCA Norfolk staff from across the county have been honoured for outstanding service to the Christian charity in a first-ever awards and celebration event. (Author: )
YMCA talent on show in Norwich exhibition
From youngsters lined up with their saxophones to a concert in an historic Norwich church – photographs by young residents of YMCA Norfolk were on show in The Forum this summer. (Author: )
Splashing around with the YMCA
YMCA Norfolk staff, volunteers and young people had a fun day on the Beach at Gorleston. (Author: )
And the Winner is ...
Elaine Middleton was the winner of the YMCA Norfolk ‘More than a Song’ competition at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show and was delighted to be awarded with the prize of an iPad2.
(Author: )
YMCA's Spirit of the Carnival
YMCA residents at Norwich Central took part in this year’s Lord Mayor’s procession, where they dressed as Sparta’s from ancient Greece as part of the ‘Islands around the World’ theme. (Author: )
YMCA wins Norfolk Show trophy!
This year's Royal Norfolk Show exhibition winners proved that it's fun to play at the YMCA. Their interactive and welcoming stand demonstrated that the Christian organisation is so much more than a song.
(Author: )
Choir at Wymondham concert helps build YMCA future
A full Wymondham Abbey, reverberating to the sounds of the Tallis Chamber Choir and the Alexandra Players, helped to raise several thousand pounds for YMCA Norfolk’s Bethel Street building appeal last Saturday. (Author: )
Classical concert in aid of YMCA Norfolk appeal
The renowned Tallis Chamber Choir head an impressive line-up for a charity concert at Wymondham Abbey on June 4, in aid of YMCA Norfolk’s £1m Bethel Street building appeal. (Author: )
Helping build a brighter future for young people
YMCA Norfolk has teamed up with construction firm Lovell and offender resettlement charity MOVEON east to provide employment advisers with useful on-site construction experience to help them in their work. (Author: )
YMCA marks war role with Norwich exhibition
Seventy years after the YMCA played a crucial part in the war effort across Norfolk, accommodating and feeding hundreds of troops the current Norwich YMCA restaurant has hosted a nostalgic exhibition. (Author: )
YMCA work in Yarmouth trebles over past year
YMCA Norfolk has seen a huge increase in its work with young people in Great Yarmouth over the past year and a recent open day at its enlarged offices on North Quay welcomed scores of clients, supporters, partner organizations and guests. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk residents protest over youth service cuts
Young YMCA residents in King’s Lynn, who hit the headlines on TV and in the local press with their concerted opposition to youth service cuts across Norfolk, are putting what they learnt in the process to good use. (Author: )
News home page article
News home page article (Author: )
Sir Richard spends night sleeping rough in Norwich
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the new president of YMCA Norfolk slept rough on the streets of Norwich at the weekend to raise money for YMCA Norfolk and to get a glimpse into what life is like for the homeless. (Author: )
Ex-Army chief becomes new YMCA Norfolk president
Former head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, was made president of YMCA Norfolk last night (October 18), taking over from Richard Jarrold, with a pledge to Serve to Lead. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk launches its annual review
YMCA Norfolk launched its 2010 Annual Review at its AGM held at Norwich Cathedral Hostry on October 18. (Author: )
AGM Invite
AGM Invite (Author: )
Right Tracks front page
Click here to get your copy of the Right Tracks album produced by YMCA residents and staff and now available online. (Author: )