This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
YMCA Brunel Group Christmas Youth Club Kit Appeal
12 November 2024
We at YMCA Brunel Group are running a Christmas Appeal to raise enough funds to fully equip their newly refurbished Frome Youth & Community Centre (FYCC) in Frome.
Thanks to the Youth Investment Fund, we’ve been able to replace the roof and renovate the building to make it more accessible and better equipped to support young people and the community of Frome. By the end of December, we’ll have a beautiful new space ready for young people to enjoy—BUT it will be empty!
We urgently need to raise funds to furnish FYCC with everything it needs: chairs, sofas, kitchen appliances, sports gear, computers and software, games, 3D printer, and more. YMCA BG supports around 11,000 young people each year across 9 youth clubs and 4 young carers groups. The appeal, starting during Youth Work Week on November 4th and running until Christmas Day, hopes to raise enough not just for the Frome Youth Club but potentially for other youth clubs in Somerset if additional funds are secured.
Limited resources, funding cuts, and societal stereotypes are leaving young people without safe spaces to socialise, seek support, and learn how to positively contribute to their communities. YMCA BG Youth Clubs provide these vital spaces, but without sufficient funding, they are limited in what they can offer.
“Being part of a young person’s journey can create a lasting legacy as they grow and impact their world, with an ever-widening ripple effect,” says Mark Willcox, Director of Youth & Community. “We know that one young person’s positive influence can change the world and future generations.”
Mark’s vision for young people is inspired by two powerful concepts: kintsugi (金継ぎ) and ubuntu. Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, reminds us that imperfections can lead to something even more beautiful. Similarly, the struggles young people face today can become the very foundation for their future success and growth. Ubuntu, from the Nguni Bantu language, emphasises that we are all interconnected—one person’s positive change can uplift everyone around them, fostering a stronger, more connected community.
The Christmas Campaign aims to raise £40,000 to equip FYCC with items like laptops, creative tools, and software which will provide young people with the skills they need for a brighter future. YMCA Youth Workers are dedicated to helping young people improve problem-solving skills, increase computer literacy, and discover new creative passions.
“My dream for youth work is to ensure ALL young people are given equal opportunities to chase their dreams—empowering them to pursue what they love and become the best versions of themselves,” shares Chiara, Team Leader.
How to Support the Appeal
YMCA Brunel Group is calling on individuals and local organisations to contribute to this essential cause. Every donation will go directly toward improving services for young people and ensuring the charity can continue its important work.
To donate, please visit https://ymca-bg.org/get-involved/fundraising/donate/ or contact EmmaSeal@ymca-bg.org.