I currently manage eight staff members working in schools and the community including a school counsellor, youth worker, a parent support worker and our new health and well being development worker. Because each of our workers is based in different schools, it's important for me to ensure that headteachers are happy with the service they receive and keep the communications strong. While trying to sustain funding for our workers, I'm also trying to develop ways of involving young people in our work and create meaningful partnerships with other organisations. I meet regularly with workers and schools, organising team activities, keeping staff up to date with their training, evidencing our effectiveness, involving young people in our design and delivery and working in partnership with other organisations. I have a great team who invest their own lives into the lives of young people. They do brilliant work and I passionately believe we make a difference to young people, but at the same time I love being able to improve what we do and strengthen our work. It's great to take a new idea or concept and run with it and see what grows. Primarily I always see myself as a youth worker, so I'm involved in my church running small groups, youth clubs and youth events. It's a God given passion and it fires me up to work directly with young people. I've been married for 12 years and have three children. I'm also on the leadership team at my church, Oak Grove Chapel. If I ever get any spare time it's spent playing FIFA on the Xbox, making cakes or painting model soldiers! Life is usually action-packed but I am grateful for every opportunity God gives and the privilege of working with young people. Whilst things are financially tight for our team I can say from experience that if it is part of God’s plan there is no stopping it. Pictured above is Nick Blanch, left, taking part in the YMCA Norfolk Sleep Easy in January. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk's Mary has made a real difference
Mary Ives joined YMCA Norfolk to make a difference – and what a difference she has made to the lives of countless young people in and around Great Yarmouth. (Author: )
A year in the life of YMCA Norfolk
A year in the life of YMCA Norfolk (Author: )
Right Royal celebration for YMCA Norfolk residents
Residents at YMCA Central in Norwich celebrated the recent Royal Wedding in style along with the rest of the nation. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk duo walk hills for the homeless
Two YMCA Norfolk colleagues have completed a 75-mile sponsored walk across Cumbria to raise cash to help homeless young people in Norwich find a proper bed for the night. (Author: )
YMCA sports coach wins top Norwich learning award
A community sports coach with YMCA Norfolk, who turned his life around after getting involved in a football project, has been crowned learner of the year at a Norwich awards ceremony. (Author: )
Norfolk's Tim to join international YMCA runners
YMCA Norfolk schools worker, Tim Lee, is set to join an international YMCA team running in the London Marathon on April 17. (Author: )
YMCA's Michael joins celebrity sports launch
Football coach and YMCA Norfolk part-time worker Michael Douglas has joined with celebrities such as Delia Smith, Jake Humphrey, Simon Thomas and Iwan Roberts to help relaunch a Norwich City FC charity which promotes sport and its benefits. (Author: )
Nick joins team for Indian Christian mission
YMCA Norfolk corporate support director Nick Nundy is heading to South India with a team of Norfolk Christians to help lead a Gospel mission for the next two weeks. (Author: )
OUR PEOPLE: Dreaming of a YMCA Christmas
YMCA Norfolk resettlement offier Mike Howard has seasonal thoughts about homelessness and is dreaming of a YMCA Christmas in his latest poetry series. (Author: )
Norfolk landlady Janet swaps pub for church
A Norfolk pub landlady has swapped last orders for holy orders and become a parish priest after an amazing experience in her local church. (Author: )
OUR PEOPLE: Reflections on young lives
YMCA Norfolk resettlement officer Mike Howard reflects on young lives in a series of short poems. (Author: )
OUR PEOPLE: Stefanie finds a hidden gem
Stefanie Pearson has recently started work as an Executive Assistant at YMCA Norfolk. (Author: )
OUR PEOPLE: Jasmine fired up about life
Norwich Central YMCA kitchen assistant, Jasmine Kerrison, is a keen photographer, spins fire and is studying for a degree. (Author: )
Norwich civic honour for YMCA volunteer Matt
Matt Godfrey was once living rough on the streets of Norwich, but now he has received a Civic Award from the city’s Lord Mayor for outstanding voluntary service with YMCA Norfolk. (Author: )
A turning point in Martin's life journey
Martin Rye has just taken over at YMCA Norfolk’s Throckmorton Yard project, the latest step in a journey that has taken him from a young man drifting between unemployment and fights with authority to a housing manager with a real purpose in life. (Author: )
YMCA Norfolk honours 250 years of service
Over 250 years of service by staff at YMCA Norfolk was recognised in a special ceremony at Norfolk County Hall last night (May 20). (Author: )
OUR PEOPLE: A chance to take breath
When Lady Kay Fisher moved to Norfolk just over 12 years ago, she became a councillor at Breckland and joined the Board of YMCA Norfolk. (Author: )