YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF THE WORK OF THE YMCA
We want all young people to have the opportunity to fulfil their full potential and we have a long history of providing services that enable young people to grow and develop in every aspect of their lives.
YMCA youth workers are qualified and dedicated professionals who work to ensure that every young person feels they have a place to belong, where their voice is heard and where they are valued and respected as individuals.
Our work with young people covers a number of areas and our current programme includes:
Murder Mystery Evening
On Wednesday the 15th December the YMCA held its first murder mystery evening for the youth council. The evening started with the pizza and the youth sitting talking to the murder suspects. The youth were then dvided into teams and they had an hour to visit each room and question each suspect before returning to the dining room to accuse the murderer. The night finished with "Ivan Egoe" the gym instructor being dragged off after the youth had correctly accused him of murdering the YMCA president.
Christmas Jam 2010
On Thursday the 16th December the YMCA held its 5th Annual Christmas party, along with the traditional turkey toasties and youth awards the evening included games, music, a youth quiz and Santa's grotto. More than 50 people turned up despite the snow and once again there were plenty of donated raffle prizes from shops and businesses to be won.
No Pain No Game
The final year's activities have included a mini golf/fish and chips trip to Blackpool, followed by a drive through the lights, and a trip to "Go Ape" in Rivington which included 40 foot drops, zip wires, bridges and obstacles suspended amongst the trees. The young people beat the staff at football in 2010, winning the Staff Vs Young People Trophy.
Youth Council & volunteering
The Council has doubled in size and there has also been an increase in youth volunteering. Young people have written their own constitution; helped other youths apply for funding; made sure that all the projects have run smoothly and are currently looking into an exchange project. They have been central to the Halloween and Christmas Awards Bash and we have two youth council representatives to the board of trustees.
Venue Youth Cafe
Numbers have continued to increase along with the range of food on offer. Youth volunteers run the cafe and with new furniture and free-view TV added this year the youth cafe has proved popular and busy on Thursday nights.
Skate Project
We ran a peer education program this year after the young people of the skate community applied for funding to teach younger skaters the basics on smaller indoor equipment. Working in partnership with the BMBC we have seen detached increase to two nights a week and relationships with the skate community blossom while ASB has decreased on the nights the teams are out. The YMCA team helped out at August's Play Day, holding the Skate competition at the YMCA as the skate park was flooded.
Music for the Masses
The concept of the project is to provide young people with a safe space to watch their favourite local bands perform. The project also provides equipment to learn with and the chance for young people to create their own songs and write their own lyrics. The project has held open mic nights to showcase talent.
Work Experience
More young people than ever before have come to the YMCA on our varied work experience programme, doing everything from admin work to being out in the community on the children's project. The feedback had been great from schools and young people and the bookings for next year are already coming in.
Sexual Health Event
9 young people represented Bolton at a sexual health summit at Crewe Hall following on from last year's Claim Your Voice project. They were asked to put 3 questions to an expert panel in the hope that their views could influence new youth policies. The event was attended by around 150 young people from all over the North West.
Christmas Bash 2009
The YMCA had held its 4th annual Christmas party. More than 50 young people enjoyed games, food, prizes and karaoke. We also gave our annual volunteer and attendee of the year awards and no Christmas party would be complete without a visit from Santa.
