June was a wonderful month, celebrating our therapeutic horticulture work with young people across YMCA Exeter. BBC Radio Devon recorded two short pieces. And it was fabulous to host Gardeners’ Question Time on Tuesday 18th June. If you were one of the 250 people who joined us for the evening, we hope you had a…
Superhero mum-of-three describes what it was like to train and run the London Marathon. “I decided to run the London marathon because every year I watch it on the TV and think it looks like an amazing challenge. The training was really hard. I ran mostly on my own and wasn’t much fun in the rain and…
On bank holiday Monday, eight-year-old Phoebe, Eleni, Jubilee and seven-year-old Amelie set off in double kayaks, surrounded by a safety crew, to cover just under a mile along the Exeter canal. Finishing at Double Locks, the exuberant crew celebrated raising over £1,00 to support young people at risk of homelessness in Exeter. The adventurous quartet raised…
We were delighted to have a strong team of seven runners take part in the Great West Run on Sunday 26th May. Two YMCA Exeter residents, John and Daria, plus staff members and wonderfully committed supporters. Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate, Will Aczel explains why he decided to run for YMCA Exeter: “At a time when homelessness is…
YMCA Exeter’s Volunteer Coordinator, Sue Wilson, shares an array of successes as she looks back on the first year of our new Ambassador programme: Last Spring we launched our YMCA Exeter Ambassador programme. The scheme was borne out of the Lighthouse Training Programme which YMCA Exeter residents have the chance to work through and complete. We wanted…
It was great to welcome BBC Spotlight to our Lighthouse cafe on Wednesday. Thank you to YMCA Exeter residents, Lewis and Chas* for sharing your thoughts on the Autumn statement. *name changed YMCA Exeter welcomes the new changes that the government has announced today to raise the minimum wage, to increase benefits by 6.7% and to…
YMCA EXETER is relieved and thankful to hear that Devon County Council has pressed pause on plans to stop funding support for homeless people. The news was announced by Devon County Council on Tuesday 8th August, less than a week after the special Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee meeting where Vice Chair, Martin…
In the lead up to the Devon County Council Scrutiny meeting on 27th July, we have produced an “Alternative” Report on the consultation on the proposal to cease the contribution to the 18+ Homeless Prevention funding across Devon. The Scrutiny meeting looking at the proposed cuts on their webcast. Details of how to watch can…
A big thank you to everyone who tuned in to Devon County Council’s Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 13th June. The public meeting was the next step in the discussions around the proposed plans by Devon County Council to cut the 18+ homelessness prevention fund which would have a devastating impact…
Devon and Somerset-based crew of four are gearing up to face a 550 nautical mile world record breaking row across the Arctic Ocean in July. Departing from Tromso, Norway, the Ocean Revival Arctic Rowing team will row for 10-15 days to reach Svalbard in the high North. The team will be led by Plymouth-based Royal…
