Today we are celebrating International Women’s Day and what better way to start than by hearing from the first female President of YMCA Europe and YMCA Exeter’s valued partner, Emma Osmundsen. ——– It’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Emma Osmundsen is supposed to be on holiday, but when I interrupt her day with a phone…
Callum Hardy was 18 years old when he slept rough for around five months. Here he tells his story: At 18 I found myself homeless and sleeping rough. I can remember the first night. I was scared. Lost. And cold. So cold. The hardest part was falling asleep. I didn’t know what would happen to…
YMCA Exeter resident, Natalie Overson was 16 years old when she staged a sleep-in with fellow youth, determined to keep their youth centre in Okehampton open. “When we heard our youth centre was going to be shut, we couldn’t believe it. There was no way we were going to let it happen,” explains 23-year-old Natalie…
Residents treated to an early Christmas tradition Opening their front doors on 6th December, each of our residents discovered they’d been treated to gifts from St Nicholas – famous for his kindness – and traditionally celebrated by children across parts of Europe. The surprise gifts were thanks to the hard work of our German intern,…
Over 80 guests, YMCA Exeter residents, staff and friends from the past and present joined us at our Service of Thanksgiving in Exeter Cathedral on Sunday 7th November. We celebrated together, sharing the evening with our President, the Rt Rev’d Robert Atwell, Bishop of Exeter, the 175 years of working in the city and local…
Our October half-term fundraiser saw some fantastic bake sales take place across the city in support of YMCA Exeter’s work with local young people. A few highlights of the week were our friends at Exeter City Living raising an incredible £184 at their staff team social event. Local Estate Agents, Wilkinson Grant, kindly contributed a…
Looking Back to Build Forward History is a fascinating subject. It is made up of the stories we tell about our past and present. It can be told from differing perspectives depending on who is telling the story because it is influenced by the ‘lens’ of the narrator. We often tell and hear stories from…
“Moments to pause and reflect are often elusive in our fast-paced busy lives, yet when we are intentional in stopping we are reminded of the huge blessings that surround us and the incredible hurdles God has already overcome. This isn’t a 21st-century issue, however. Many times in the Bible we read of God’s own people…
Our amazing staff at YMCA Exeter work quietly behind the scenes, helping each young person to access the support they need and begin a journey of recovery. It’s rarely straightforward, but a gradual process of tiny steps forward. Jamie’s story of transformation is a wonderful reminder of how each staff member is essential for the…
A couple of weeks ago I spoke to Emma*. As she bravely shared her story with me, it was a fresh reminder of why young people urgently need access to safe and affordable accommodation. This month we’re celebrating raising over £200,000 towards the Sidwell Studios build. Emma’s story is a stark reminder of why the new development…
