Impact
Here are some recent projects that benefit local communities in the southwest, carried out by YMCAs with help from the South West Trust Fund
Si Johns Joint Chief Executive, YMCA Exeter.
Lydia and I are very thankful for the financial contribution the South West Trust Fund made towards Lydia achieving her Masters in Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse, and the improvement in the service we as an organisation and Lydia as an individual can provide to those who come to live with us at the YMCA. Lydia has now graduated having achieved a High Merit (she was apparently 0.6% off a Distinction grade).
Lydia writes:
“The past two years studying my master’s in Understanding Domestic Violence and Sexual abuse has been an eye opener. I have learned so much about this topic, myself, and my ability. Studying this issue has helped fuel my passion for the subject and the changes that are needed within society to end violence against women. My research study in my final year was looking at the question, “To what extent is the Pentecostal Church equipping its clergy and volunteers to support Violence Against Women? ”This research study opened my eyes to some of the shortfalls there are within the Church and the simple solutions that can make the Church great in tackling a significant societal issue such as Violence against women. My passion moving forward is supporting victims of such atrocities and equipping Churches on this topic to be a better source of help and change for victims. I am so thankful for this opportunity to obtain my master’s in such an important topic, and I am excited about how to use this knowledge to help others. “
Maria Goodwin, CEO YMCA South Devon says:
Receiving some additional funding from the South West Trust Fund, has enabled us to turn what was essentially a piece of wasteland, into a really nice garden area, complete with raised planters, fire pit, gazebo, and water feature.
This with the assistance from the Community Payback Scheme helped us enormously, not only with the manual labour, but also by saving us hundreds of pounds. The young people also got involved with the preparation work and now that it is more recognisable as a garden, the nursery children have started coming up too and spending time with the young people. We have also been able to have a few of the ‘more able’ residents from the retirement home come along and assist with some planting. The next steps will probably be realised more in the spring, when hopefully we will start to see some of our root vegetables sprouting and be able to plant other items like herbs and salad. In time, we hope to be able to provide food for ourselves and the local community, but we realise this will not happen overnight. We hope to get some sort of poly tunnel arrangements in place for some of the less hardy salad/fruit items too.
In the meantime, the forest school type sessions are being enjoyed by all ages and it is thanks to the South West Trust Fund, that we have been able to start this journey of outdoor, intergenerational learning.
Some other impacts grants have made.
Carolyn Trevivian, Fundraiser, YMCA Cornwall writes:
We received a grant of £697.20 to purchase 6 chrome book tablets for use by our housing team to record residents’ progress and share and monitor targets and aims together. It has been very successful.
Sam Thomas, Community Projects Manager, YMCA Exeter writes:
Your funds of £1,290 towards training for our ‘Whittle for wellbeing’ project have opened up lots of fantastic opportunities for us to work creatively and therapeutically with young adults in need. Over the past 6 months we have had so much fun both being trained further in green woodworking and being reassured in the skills we already could bring to the project. We have worked with over 17 young people so far in small groups, whittling, chatting and enjoying the outdoors. We will run one more set of workshops through the autumn of 2023 and these will be specifically aimed at asylum seekers currently battling the difficult living and social conditions on the outskirts of Exeter.
The ‘Whittle for wellbeing’ project has been so successful we have broadened the pool of beneficiaries threefold, it now includes 18-29 year olds in our supported housing; and 18-30 years olds referred from local GP practices and refugee support networks through our social prescribing projects in partnership with Wellbeing Exeter. The green woodworking and first aid training staff have under taken was of very good quality and the feedback from the team has shown its value:
“It was an absolute highlight of my year to undertake green woodwork training at Woodland Makers in Herefordshire this September. We worked on lots of safety techniques and were encouraged to explore how we can creatively run whittling projects with our participants. I also had the chance to network with other green woodworkers from across the UK running similar projects” said team member Pedro Schmid.
“It’s been a Godsend having something for my son to look forward to in the week–it’s helped him with his social skills and he has really enjoyed exploring his creative side. While he comes to terms with living with long term health problems it’s been a huge help through this transition” said a Mum of a young client.
“I’ve had a very difficult time recently and coming to the YMCA garden to do woodwork has helped create a sense of inner peace – I’ve loved the focus on the present whittling has created too.” Client
Faye Dewhurst, Development and Communications Manager, YMCA Cheltenham writes:
The South West YMCA Trust Fund grant (£1,200) was used to improve mental health across our organisation. Both the YMCA Cheltenham Staff Team and the residents we support benefitted from this. As a team we were able to receive specialist Mental Health First Aid training, which enabled us to recognise signs of poor mental health and how to access the right support.
Sarah Newberry, Youth and Families Manager, YMCA Plymouth writes:
Plymouth YMCA were incredibly fortunate to receive a grant for £1,500 from the SWTF. This money supported our Y Gardeners project to grow and develop their youth and community provision which had sadly declined due to budget constraints/covid impact.
As a result, YMCA Plymouth’s reputation with local stake holders (including Plymouth City Council) has improved, and we have generated positive kudos and sustainable provision.
Our garden now provides fresh fruit and vegetables which are grown ‘by the community for the community’. All produce grown in the garden is distributed to local people in crisis via the local food bank ‘Provide Devon’ with over 1,600 meals being delivered this year.
As well as this, the garden hosts outdoor education projects, therapeutic workshops to support people’s mental health and community events to help combat social isolation and loneliness.
