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News & Blog

House to Home

22/10/2019

 
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​No. 4 Water Skellgate is part of Ripon YMCA. We own and manage the property, which is in need of a full refurbishment.
We have already raised the funds to proceed with the building works required. This will mean the property will be ready to decorate, install flooring, a kitchen and bathroom.
We are fundraising for £30,000 to turn the house in to a home. It is expected that tenants who have progressed in our hostel spaces, and others assessed as suitable, will be able to take advantage of the shared property. We will provide low level support and work with the tenants to help them identify their next move.
 
To donate:
 
Text RIPONYMCA to 70085 to donate £5
This costs £5 plus a standard rate message
 
Visit Just Giving and search
for “Ripon YMCA Home”
www.justgiving.com

Zumbathon!

16/9/2019

 
On the 7th of September 2019 over 60 people took part in our Zumbathon at Ripon Leisure Centre. Raising over £600 for the YMCA our massive 2 hour Zumba class was enjoyed by Zumba enthusiasts and beginners alike. Our fundraising group organised the event led by Eddie who is a local Zumba teacher and supporter of Ripon YMCA. 

Lou who too part in the event and said "not only was it great to see so many people dancing, having fun and generally feeling fantastic.. together we also raised funds for our amazing Ripon YMCA.. we all know the funds raised will be put to great use. 

Summer Newsletter 2019

14/8/2019

 
View our Summer Newsletter here

The difference we made in 2018/19

8/7/2019

 
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Gardening club

19/4/2019

 
Following a small grant from Ripon Rowels Rotary club we have started a gardening club for our tenants. We have been working hard to rejuvenate our outside space and grow some food to cook and eat at our Cooking Social. Tenants have used pallets on the walls to plant in and we have built some large planters for growing potatoes. 

Grand total raised by our Sleep Easy 2019.

3/4/2019

 
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THANK YOU to our fantastic Sleep Easy 2019 participants and support crew. 
Total funds raised is £6394.44 
These funds will be spent on updating our tenants rooms providing new shelves and table top freezers. It will also be used by our volunteer maintenance team to buy paint and and materials as they refurbish 5 of our rooms this year. 

Thank you to everyone who supported the Sleep Easy 2019. We will be back in 2020 so watch this space! 

Spring Newsletter 2019

14/3/2019

 
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Our Spring Newsletter is available here. 

Sleep Easy 2019

12/3/2019

 
Thank you to all the 2019 Sleep Easy participants. Our initial total is over £5500 raised for Ripon YMCA. 

Leanne – 2019 Sleep Easy participant: 
"I thought my eyes were open but there's definitely nothing like direct experience of sleeping out for 1 night.  I now feel I can legitimately highlight some of the issues homeless people face with others who perhaps see it as a black and white situation. I know I for one wouldn't last a week on the streets and would no doubt turn to whatever I could to numb the bitter cold, isolation, loneliness and fear in whatever form that numbing came in". 

Photos of our 2019 Sleep Easy event were all taken by local photographer Paul Oldham.

Sleep Easy 2019

5/3/2019

 
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YMCA Ripon Sleep Easy Event
 
This Friday will see the second YMCA Ripon Sleep Easy event taking place on Ripon Market place 7pm – 7am. In 2018 we saw 10 volunteers take part in the event raising the vital funds for YMCA Ripon and helping to raise much needed awareness of youth homelessness.
 
While there is recognition from the public that homelessness is going up, new research from YMCA England and Wales has found that just one in four young people who are homeless (26%) believe the public care about youth homelessness. When thinking about themselves and their personal situation, even fewer young people who are homeless believe the public are concerned. Less than one in five homeless young people (19%) believe the public care about their situation.
 
We want YMCA Ripon’s Sleep Easy event to be a way of showing young people who are homeless that the public do care about them and that they are trying to tackle the problem of homelessness by raising vital funds.
 
Lucy Gratton, CEO at YMCA Ripon said ‘Our tenants come from a variety of backgrounds and many have had a challenging upbringing. Whilst we don’t see a big number of people sleeping rough on our city streets we do see a number of young people who find themselves sleep on sofas at friends’ houses ‘sofa surfing’, sleeping in tents, cars and garden sheds. We work with the young people to support them from dependence to independence through 1:1 sessions, group work and activities.
 
This year we see 24 volunteers who will be bracing the cold and sleeping rough so others don’t have to. We welcome individuals from a variety of professions and background such as local café owners and employees, bank staff, retail assistants, local Councillors, primary schools staff and many more. With their support YMCA Ripon can continue to help young people find a safe place to stay and access the tools they need to rebuild their lives. One night can make a lifetime of difference. If you would like to support the volunteers please sponsor them via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/riponymcasleepeasy
 
YMCA Ripon is a standalone charity governed by local trustees who aim to provide safe, supported accommodation for people aged 16 – 35yrs. YMCA Ripon offers 18 single occupancy rooms supporting young people holistically means we provide not only a bed but also help a young person gain the training, skills and confidence to go on to lead independent lives.
 
For more information visit www.riponymca.org phone 01765 607609 

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Become a Buddy or Activity Volunteer

30/1/2019

 
We want to recruit and train a small number of adults who can provide 1 to 1 support to our tenants. We expect a buddy to meet with a tenant regularly; to go to the coffee shop, take part in an exercise class or help the tenant volunteer. A buddy will be trained to provide appropriate support and will meet tenants in a public place.    ​
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Description of the role:
The role of a volunteer buddy is to:
- Provide one to one or small group support to young people to promote their independence and integration into the community
- Build safe and trusting relationships with young people to increase their support network and reduce loneliness
- Be a positive role model to motivate, inspire and raise young people's aspirations
- Encourage participation in a range of positive or volunteering activities to increase independence and confidence in self
- To provide written feedback after sessions to ensure open and transparent communication with staff and other support workers
- To share ideas and feedback to the team to ensure that opportunities for activities are relevant and meet the needs of the individual
- To attend relevant training for the role
- To carry out the work in a non-judgemental way
- Be open and honest about own challenges whilst buddying and be able to reflect and feedback about the scheme


Skills and qualities needed for the role:- Good communication and interpersonal skills when working with others
- Self-motivated, reliable and organised
- Active listening skills
- Ability to relate to young people and establish rapport
- Relevant knowledge and experience to be able to provide the right level of support – e.g. youth work, teaching, mentoring
- Good level of written communication skills and ideally experience with writing supporting statements, CVs and applications
- Ability to use questions and constructive feedback to enhance service development
- Flexibility
- Patient with a positive attitude
- Empathetic and understanding of the issues young people face
- Supportive and encouraging
- Able to inspire, empower and motivate young people
- Able to help young people develop to reach their potential
- Willing to take on a challenge and make the project a success


What is in it for me?
- Gain experience and transferable skills with working with young people, those with mental health challenges or those facing isolation
- Receive training and support to develop skills and awareness of young people, safeguarding and homelessness

For more information or an application for please contact us. 
This role will require a DBS check as you will be working with young people and vulnerable adults. We will only select volunteers who are able to provide the qualities above, and have a positive and non-judgemental attitude. Full training and support will be given. 

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What Our TENANTs Are Saying

"Ripon YMCA helped me and support me to find work, sort out my money and get my life on track" - Amanda, 26

Ripon YMCA helped me to positively start a new chapter in my life - Paul, 23

I would still be sleeping rough and walking the streets in the cold without the YMCA - 
​J, 21


Ripon YMCA, 4-5 Water Skellgate, Ripon, HG4 1BQ

info@riponymca.org 

Registered Charity:                            250986
Registered Housing Association   LH 3651





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