News Stories

Hove YMCA Resident at Thorpe ParkAt the start of July Hove YMCA trialled a loyalty card scheme in the Lansworth House housing project. Each resident was given a loyalty card and any resident who got five stamps on their card was able to enjoy a trip to Thorpe Park

To receive a stamp on the card residents were asked to attend or take part in a number of activities. The activities included, attending a sexual health night, a drug awareness night, working on the Hove YMCA allotment and taking part in volunteer work in the housing projects.

Due to the success of the trial, Hove YMCA is now hoping to introduce the loyalty card to all Hove YMCA housing projects and future trips are already being planned for residents currently participating the scheme.

Hove YMCA Head Office Has MovedAfter several years operating from our Marmion Road Centre, Hove YMCA Head office has moved to a more central location at the heart of Brighton and Hove. We are now based at Reed House on Church Road, near Palmeira Square. All the senior managers will now be based here alongside Hove YMCA's core services, including Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and Therapeutic Services.

For new contact details and directions please click here.

The Youth, Sport and Community team will still be based at Marmion Road, and the Y centre will be open as usual. Click here for details.

For general enquiries regarding the move please call on 01273 222550 or email reed.house@hoveymca.org.uk

Hove YMCA Worker With Gambian SchoolchildrenA team of volunteers led by Hove YMCA are going to Gambia in October 2008. Their mission is to help people in the Serekunda region of Gambia, West Africa. Hove YMCA made a similar trip a few years ago to help improve the living situations there and have decided to go back and help some more.

Gambia is the 56th poorest country in the world and we just want to do our bit to make poverty history!

On Thursday 5th June, Hove YMCA’s Youth Advice Centre was pleased to receive a visit from Sir Al Aynsley Green, Children’s Commissioner for England. The Commissioner has been visiting children and young people across the country to hear their ideas and opinions about what the government can do for them.

Hove YMCA Volunteers

National Volunteers' Week, from the 1st to 7th June, is the annual celebration of volunteering. National Volunteer Week website. To mark National Volunteers’ Week, Hove YMCA asked a volunteer to interview some of the many volunteers from across the organisation to show the wide ranging and varied work the volunteers do and how they contribute to the work of Hove YMCA.

The Inner Journery ProjectThe Inner Journey Project to South Africa in June 2008 will take a group of 10 young people on an ‘outer journey’ of learning and adventure and ‘inner journey’ of self discovery in one of the world’s most diverse countries. The group will undertake a number of life -changing challenges and experiences. Hove YMCA is currently raising money to help each young person participate, please read on to find out more about the project and how you can help.

Global Xchange Volunteers

2008 volunteering at Hove YMCA has started well! Two volunteers from the Global XChange programme have begun a three month volunteer placement in Hove YMCA Youth, Sports & Community Team. Christy from Northern Ireland and Mistura from Nigeria have already spent three months in Nigeria and are now volunteering with Hove YMCA. Alongside helping out in the clubs, they are helping to develop Hove YMCA's young person’s website and are creating a visual presentation documenting volunteering in Hove YMCA, which will be premiered at the Hove YMCA Volunteer Celebration Event in March.

Click here to read more about our Global Xchange Programme volunteers and volunteering opportunities at Hove YMCA.

Young Homeless Person

Homelessness Sunday is an annual event which has been run by the Homelessness Sunday Partnership for over 15 years. It brings together thousands of churches drawing attention to the devastating effects of homelessness.

Everyday in Brighton & Hove one young person under the age of 18 is evicted from their home by their parents

Read More about Homelessness Sunday, Hove YMCA’s work with young homeless people and how you can support this invaluable contribution to the community.

Church Warden & Safe Space Team An innovative project, Safe Space, which provides support, first aid services and a place of safety to people in the town centre who have become vulnerable, injured or distressed, was so successful over last Christmas and New Year and the summer months of 2007, that it is being run again over this Christmas and New Year period.

Safe Space is being provided by experienced staff from Hove YMCA and British Red Cross volunteers at St Paul’s Church, West Street, Brighton. The project was officially launched by Caroline Mayhew, High Sheriff of East Sussex, at 8.00pm on 30th November and will run until 31st December. It operates from 10.30pm to 2.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Mayor, Brian Oxley, CEO David Standing and John Fox

Hove YMCA and their team of workers and volunteers endeavour to support young people to achieve their potential in its fullest sense, and to enable them to navigate the often difficult and challenging journey through adolescence into adulthood.

Every year Hove YMCA staff, young people and their parents as well as members of the community gather to celebrate the variety of achievements and goals that the young people have reached throughout the year. This can range from being a volunteer sports coach to gaining a Duke of Edinburgh Award. This year is no exception and some amazing young people were congratulated.