As a Christian organisation we are so proud to both receive support from, and provide support to, churches in our community.

With our missional and relational outlook as well as our experience of working with communities, we are ideally placed to act as a bridge between churches and their unchurched communities and we act as a catalyst to empower local churches to reach out to children and young people.

Working in partnership means we can provide:

  • Initial discussion about what our consultation would look like, gathering like-minded adults to chat about gaps in provision
  • Consultation with young people and parents into their desire for a youth service
  • Tailored training e.g. Safeguarding, Child Sexual Exploitation, Risk Assessments
  • Ongoing support for adults and young people after the service is launched
  • Quarterly review of the service to ensure identified needs are met or new needs that arise.

Church partners

We have launched a new partnership with Trinity Church Exeter. Through their two Young Families Workers, we are able to run projects engaging with and developing church links with local families and making Christ known in the parish.

We are pleased to partner with ECC through which we jointly children’s and families work. Including running Messy Church and Friday Friendship for the local community.

Each month, the team at St David’s Church host a meeting to pray specifically for the YMCA Exeter community, covering prayer requests raised by members of our staff team. We are also grateful to be able to use St David’s Church for our resident’s Carol Service each Christmas, as well as staff spiritual development sessions throughout the year

Case Study: Churches in the Teign Valley

During 2019, we supported the development of an open access youth club in the Teign Valley.

The invitation to consult came from Churches in the Teign Valley who saw a gap in support for young people in the area. We met with local residents, including young people, and spoke about how they felt the need could be met.

Over a period of several months we then assisted the community in setting up an open access youth club, including making sure correct health and safety procedures were in place. We are thrilled the youth club is now successfully run by a group of local passionate volunteers and that from the initial contact, young people across the Teign Valley are receiving increased support.

Past projects

In the past we have supported churches and Christians organisations to reach their communities by setting up Job Clubs to provide employment and training support.

In the past, we have also partnered with churches through which we have jointly delivered youth, children’s and families work.

Church supporters

We receive monthly and quarterly financial donations from several local churches who are committed to supporting the work of the YMCA. These churches are:

 

Contact

To begin a conversation about partnering with the YMCA to support young people and communities in please contact us by emailing office@ymcaexeter.org.uk or calling us on 01392 410530.