Southend YMCA is a specialist Children and Young Peoples’ Charity, working in Southend-on-Sea and Essex. We work with and for Children and Young People, listening to their ideas, co-producing initiatives to provide developmental opportunities - all to combat the impact of poverty and social inequality.

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Our charitable group offers a wealth of projects:

 

• Transitional Supported housing for children and young adults at risk (ages of 16-24). We are a Housing Association (Registered Provider of Social Housing). 

• An Alternative Provision Free School offering a combined pastoral and GCSE programme (Key Stage 4, Ofsted Good). 

• A breadth of youth work/recreational projects which further the social action of young people aiding personal, social, cultural development as well as creative/artistic practice. Developing the voice and influence of young people as citizens.

• Health and wellbeing support including mentoring, coaching, and therapeutic group work.

 

This provides interesting intersectional and systemic learning which traverses some of the key societal issues facing young people: from housing and skills, to health and emotional wellbeing. 

 

We are agile, research based, committed to reflective practice, with a relentless drive for improvement - to always deliver the best possible projects for and with children, young people, their parents and carers.

 

The Southend YMCA group offers assurance and business support. A solid organisation based on solid and tested approaches.

 

Southend YMCA holds the Investors in People (IIP) Award at Gold which speaks of our value-based culture, the Matrix Standard (for information advice and guidance), Community Safety Accreditation (with Essex Police) and the Queens Award for Voluntary Service (the MBE for voluntary groups awarded for the SOS Bus).