Bournemouth, 21 October 2025 — Over 130 incredible participants braved the cold and damp conditions on Saturday 18th October 2025 for YMCA Bournemouth’s annual BIG Sleep Easy, a community fundraising event where individuals, teams, and organisations spend a night sleeping rough — so that others don’t have to. This year’s Sleep Easy took place in…
Over 130 people are preparing to brave the outdoors for YMCA Bournemouth’s annual fundraising event – The BIG Sleep Easy 2025, taking place on Saturday 18th October 2025 from 6.30pm through to 6.30am at The Treehouse, Diverse Abilities, Hurn. The BIG Sleep Easy brings together groups, clubs, individuals and local businesses for a unique challenge:…
Townsend Youth Partnership awarded nearly £20,000 from The National Lottery The Townsend Youth Partnership has been awarded £19,880 from the National Lottery’s Community Fund, enabling it to expand and strengthen its work with young people on the Townsend estate in Bournemouth. The partnership provides a safe, inclusive environment where young people can access support, structure…
Walk for Mental Health: Every Step Counts YMCA Bournemouth is inviting people of all ages to take part in its 2025 Walk for Mental Health — a scenic 3.2-mile sponsored walk between Boscombe Pier and Bournemouth Pier — on Saturday 13th September, starting at 10:30 AM. The goal is to raise £10,000 in support of…
Applications are now open to join Team YMCA for the TCS London Marathon 2026, taking place on Sunday 26 April 2026. This is your chance to take part in one of the world’s most iconic races—while helping to transform lives. This year, YMCA is selecting runners based not on how fast they apply, but on…
A Prize Draw has been launched to support life-changing youth work on the Townsend estate in Bournemouth—an area where too many young people face barriers that limit their potential. The Townsend Youth Partnership, supported by YMCA Bournemouth, is inviting the public to get involved and help raise vital funds for inclusive, community-based youth services. These…
YMCA Bournemouth was delighted to welcome volunteers from the Nationwide mortgage team to Sandyholme recently, where the team generously gave their time and energy to support the site with a day of gardening, painting, and tidying up. The group rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into a variety of tasks, helping to refresh the…
The launch event for YMCA Bournemouth’s Big Sleep Easy 2025 was a resounding success, with over 40 representatives from 30 local businesses coming together to show their support for the charity’s mission to combat homelessness in the community. Held to kick-start the build-up to this year’s BIG Sleep Easy, the event highlighted the lasting impact…
YMCA Bournemouth is thrilled to announce that it has received a £5,000 grant from the Talbot Village Trust to continue providing its free, transformative counselling service for those in need. This generous funding will enable the charity to offer 100 additional therapy sessions to individuals facing multiple disadvantages, including at-risk young people, single and homeless…
Sarah Gallagher (Self-Management Team Lead) and Andrea Dawson (Social Prescriber) recently donated two knitted blankets to YMCA Bournemouth for use by their residents. The blankest were made by the Knit and Stitch group that they attend. Andrea said “The group meet every other Thursday. It is a group for patients, registered with any one of…
Two dedicated runners have stepped up to represent YMCA Bournemouth in the prestigious TCS London Marathon, answering the call featured in the 8th July edition of the Bournemouth Daily Echo. This year’s marathon is set to take place on 27 April 2025. All funds raised by the YMCA Bournemouth team will directly support people who…
YMCA Bournemouth is thrilled to announce that applications are now open to take part in its fundraising Tandem SKY Dive event, which will be held at GoSkyDive in Salisbury on 15th June 2025. For over 145 years, YMCA Bournemouth has been a cornerstone of the community, providing essential services in Accommodation, Youth Work, Family Work,…
The Townsend Youth Partnership (Charity number 1093213), based on the Townsend Estate in Bournemouth, is delighted to announce the receipt of a £9,500 grant from The Morrisons Foundation. This generous funding will enable the creation of a sensory room at the Townsend Youth Club, providing a vital resource to support young people’s mental health…
Congratulations to the following people who received prizes in YMCA Bournemouth’s recent Prize Draw for the Chatterboxes. https://www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk/youth/the-chatterboxes-disability-action-group (All winners have been notified by email.) 1 – UX Architects An original painting (Lulworth Castle) by internationally renowned artist Mirek J. Lucan worth over £1,000 https://www.lucanart.com 2 – Kate Palka Bayside Fitness Club – 2 Adult…
YMCA Bournemouth are raising funds for the Chatterboxes, this Christmas, by asking people to take part in their first ever Prize Draw. The Chatterboxes are an inspiring youth action project run by young people with disabilities aged 11-25. Their mission is to empower young people, build confidence, improve well-being, and foster independence. They create a…
Dorset people experiencing homelessness have received a pre-Christmas boost after shoppers donated hundreds of life-enhancing items. The donations came after colleagues at Tesco’s Poole Fleets Extra store opted to support YMCA Bournemouth’s Prezzies for Rezzies campaign. This year’s campaign, in partnership with and the HealthBus Trust, is encouraging members of the public to write Christmas…
YMCA Bournemouth and the HealthBus Trust are appealing for the Dorset community to spread some Christmas cheer by giving a gift to those in need this festive period. The YMCA’s 18th ‘Prezzies for Rezzies’ campaign launches, where we encourage members of the public to write Christmas cards and donate gifts for residents of our supported…
YMCA Bournemouth recently held a special celebration event to showcase its transformative work within the community. Over 100 attendees, including Sir Christopher Lees, Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset, and Cllr George Farquhar, Mayor of Bournemouth, were moved by the powerful stories shared and the dedication of the YMCA staff. The event featured the premiere of…
Charities biggest fundraiser of 2024 generates vital support for vulnerable people in Bournemouth and beyond YMCA Bournemouth’s BIG Sleep Easy 2024 has raised a total of £11,993 (Including Gift Aid) toward the charity’s work supporting homeless people in Dorset. 45 people from 19 different local businesses constructed their own shelters and spent a chilly Saturday…
This year’s BIG Sleep Easy will be held on Saturday 12 October from 6.45pm through to 6.30am on Sunday 13 October 2024 at Talbot Heath School. Groups, clubs and local businesses are warmly invited to take part in this truly unique charity fundraising event. Aimed at raising awareness of the local/national homelessness issue, whilst also…
YMCA Bournemouth Family Help Team works to support families in a range of settings with children aged up to 8 years old across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area. As part of this work the team is promoting oral health and hygiene for families, which has become a necessary focus given the difficulties many families…
The Chatterboxes, a YMCA Bournemouth project, supports young people (aged 11-25) years old with disabilities such as Autism, Learning Disabilities, visual impairments and Down Syndrome. The Chatterboxes raise awareness of disabilities and create a community which is equal for all whilst being surrounded by friendship and laughter. It empowers, & up-skills young disabled people and…
With the humanitarian crisis escalating in #Gaza, it is estimated there are over 10,000 people who have had one or both limbs amputated, an estimated half are children; to get people moving again in order to do the simple things in life such as getting to toilets, to food and avoid problems caused by immobility…
The TCS London Marathon 2025 will be held on 27 April 2025. The deadline for applications to be a part of team YMCA is Wednesday 31st July and applicants will hear from the YMCA with the outcome of their application in August. This year, the YMCA will not be allocating places on a first come…
The Townsend Youth Partnership (Charity number 1093213) is situated on the Townsend estate in Bournemouth. The partnership provides a safe place for young people to go, providing positive opportunities for them to develop personal and social/interpersonal skills. The partnership recently received a grant of £2,500 awarded by The KFC Youth Foundation to enable the delivery…
Clinical supervision is a formal process of professional support, reflection and learning that contributes to individual development. It consists of the practitioner meeting regularly with another professional, not necessarily more senior, but normally with training in the skills of supervision, to discuss casework and other professional issues in a structured way. The purpose is to…
Over 40 people representing 15 businesses recently attended the launch event of the YMCA Bournemouth’s Big Sleep Easy 2024. They heard from Sheena Dayman from the YMCA, on the impact that YMCA Bournemouth has had on providing help and support for people experiencing homelessness. In addition, the attendees heard from Mehdi, who found himself homeless,…
Wessex Packaging has again supported the YMCA Bournemouth charity with a donation of cardboard boxes, for a fundraising event in Poole, Dorset. Each year, the YMCA team organise ‘Sleep Easy’ events in collaboration with local schools and organisations, to raise much needed funds. These ‘Sleep Easy’s’ are organised to help raise awareness of the hardships…
15 schools take part in YMCA Bournemouth’s Schools Sleep Easy over the last year. Over the last 12 months, 15 local schools have taken part in the YMCA Bournemouth’s Schools Sleep Easy, with 705 young people sleeping rough, so others don’t have to. The charity’s School’s Sleep Easy event raises money to contribute towards YMCA…
The Goods Yard pub in Broadstone is donating 50p for every Junction Burger sold to The Junction Leisure Centre The Goods Yard pub in Broadstone re-opened in October 2023 as part of the Fired Up Collective. Since its inception in 2020 the Fired Up Collective (FUC) has become one of the fastest growing boutique restaurant…
The Chatterboxes receive £250 from MoreBus towards their activities. https://www.morebus.co.uk/chatterboxes-receive-bonus-our-community-fund
The Townsend Youth Partnership (Charity number 1093213) is situated on the Townsend estate in Bournemouth. The partnership provides a safe place for young people to go, providing positive opportunities for them to develop personal and social/interpersonal skills. The partnership recently received a grant of £24,980 awarded by Postcode Local Trust, thanks to funds raised by…
The Goods Yard pub in Broadstone will donate 50p for every Junction Burger sold to The Junction Leisure Centre The Goods Yard pub in Broadstone has been recently re-opened as part of the Fired Up Collective. Since its inception in 2020 the Fired Up Collective (FUC) has become one of the fastest growing boutique restaurant…
We are appealing for the Dorset community to spread some Christmas cheer by giving a gift to those in need this festive period. Our 17th ‘Prezzies for Rezzies’ campaign launches today, where we encourage members of the public to write Christmas cards and donate gifts for residents of our supported housing services. Last year, 114 residents…
AFCB recently donated £1,000 towards much needed equipment for the Townsend Youth Partnership. The Townsend Youth Partnership is situated on the Townsend estate in Bournemouth. The Partnership provides a safe place for young people to go, providing positive opportunities for them to develop personal and social/interpersonal skills. Open and detached youth work is provided from…
We’re pleased to announce that Wessex Packaging is supporting the YMCA’s ‘Sleep Easy Challenge’ events in Dorset. Organised by YMCA Bournemouth, a Bournemouth based charity, the ‘Sleep Easy Challenge’ encourages schools, businesses and individuals, to raise funds for the charity, by “sleeping rough for one night, so others don’t have to”. The YMCA Bournemouth has…
In late June, local family lawyers across Hampshire and Dorset came together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Resolution. Resolution, set up in 1982 as the Solicitors Family Law Association, is a national body of family lawyers committed to promoting a constructive approach to resolving family law issues. The organisation now has over 6,500 members…
YMCA Bournemouth are delighted to have worked positively with the team at Fitness First (Poole) over the last two weeks to successfully arrange the rescue of this fitness club. YMCA will be operating the club as a local organisation under a new name from 1st September 2023. All those involved, including the valued staff located at…
Poole-based girls’ school and sixth form, Parkstone Grammar has raised a total of £8,576.45 (including Gift Aid) as part of our annual Sleep Easy events. Students adopted a homeless lifestyle for one night, constructing shelters out of cardboard and camping out overnight with peers and teachers to raise awareness of the difficulties of rough sleeping…
Our service has expanded in 2023 to support more individuals in our local community YMCA Bournemouth has reported an all-time high demand for our counselling services, after delivering more than 450 sessions in the first quarter of 2023 alone – an increase from 217 sessions during the same period in 2021. Anxiety accounted for 40%…
Over the past months, we have been enhancing our stunning and popular Sandyholme House retreat in Studland, Dorset through extensive upgrade works. Sandyholme sleeps up to 28 people and offers the ideal getaway for all – from youth groups and churches to charities and large families. Located a five-minute walk from the beach, the retreat…
This year’s theme for National Apprenticeship is ‘Skills for Life’ – something which rings true with our own apprenticeship programme. For more than 25 years, we have been providing long-term career opportunities at The Junction, with 25 individuals having completed apprenticeships over the past eight years. Each person that has embarked on our programme has…
This year, we have dealt with an unprecedented demand for our support services – with over 2,000 sessions delivered for housing support and counselling services so far. We have been dedicated to tackling various social concerns in the county, from housing and education to health and wellbeing, which have only been exacerbated by the cost-of-living…
We are appealing for the Dorset community to spread some Christmas cheer by giving a gift to those in need this festive period. Our 16th ‘Prezzies for Rezzies’ campaign launches today (7th November), where we encourage members of the public to write Christmas cards and donate gifts for residents of our supported housing services. Last…
YMCA Bournemouth’s fourth annual Big Sleep Easy has hit a milestone as donations have exceeded £28,000 since the big event took place on Saturday 15th October at Talbot Heath School. The evening saw the community uniting for a common cause, as more than 35 people from different organisations raised money by braving the weather and…
YMCA Bournemouth has unveiled a new low-cost counselling service for residents in Bournemouth and its surrounding areas amid increasing cost of living pressures. Individuals can speak to a trained counsellor either in person or virtually for just £35 per 50-minute session – typically 25% less than similar services currently offered within the BCP area. All…
YMCA Bournemouth has announced its ‘Sleep Easy’ fundraising events, which encourage members of the public to adopt a homeless lifestyle for one night, have raised £211,000 since launching in 2016. The events see schools, groups and businesses set themselves a fundraising target, build a cardboard shelter and sleep rough for one night. Between September 2021…
As a nation, we know it isn’t right that anyone should be left hungry or living in extreme poverty. But whilst we work for long-term change, food banks provide emergency food and compassionate, dignified support to people locked in crisis. At YMCA Bournemouth Family Hubs we are able to provide emergency food bags and…
YMCA Bournemouth has revealed a sea of positive results achieved for its services over the past year, thanks to the tireless efforts of its team and ongoing valued support from local communities. Between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022, YMCA Bournemouth supported and housed 174 individuals, provided more than 53,000 meals, and hosted 850…
In March 2022 a meeting took place at the YMCA Bournemouth managed Junction Sports & Leisure Centre in Broadstone, which was attended by The Broadstone Neighbourhood Watch and YMCA. The meetings focus was upon fitness & health activities for 11-17 year olds, the importance of healthy personal choices and affordability. The BNW had a wish…
Another professional Level 3 Emergency First Aid Course delivered at The Junction Sports & Leisure Centre. Congratulations to all candidates for successfully passing the recent course and becoming newly qualified First Aiders. The five main aims of First Aid are: Preserve life Prevent the escalation of the illness or injury Promote recovery Pain relief Protect…
Sadly not everyone has sufficient funds to purchase a computer, and hence struggles when it comes to being part of the digital age we all now live in. How many of us take it for granted to pop onto a laptop/computer to organise our finances, shop, order things, simply surf and to basically sort out…
YMCA Bournemouth is delighted to announce success in attracting funding support from Allchurches Trust following a £20,000 award from the charitable organisation. Targeting young people particularly adversely impacted by Covid-19, our Innovation Hub, based at Townsend Estate, will support young people living in this area, which is amongst the 10% most deprived in the UK….
YMCA Bournemouth is proud to partner with South Coast Medical Group and the Health Bus Trust to deliver Covid vaccines to those in temporary or emergency accommodation in our facilities and those across the partnership supporting people in BCP. Dr Maggie Kirk said, “People are coming in here to access the vaccination programme, whereas they…
A chance to pray for each other and the World. Join us every Tuesday morning between 9:30am – 10:00am. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78201802723?pwd=Y0M1cHZXYS9GYmJjMnM5cEprbjM5Zz09
Dear All Following the Government announcement on Saturday 31 October 2020, we regret to inform you that The Junction will be closing for four weeks from Thursday 5 November 2020. We do hope to open once again on Thursday 3 December 2020, we shall keep all our Members/Users updated via email, social media and our…
Check out our latest Newsletter.
Check out our latest Newsletter.
When The Poole Grammar School took up the national call for additional and much needed Personal Protective Equipment, by utilising what they had in their Design Technology area, they came across one obstacle…Boxes! Boxes to store and deliver their self-made PPE Masks to local Surgeries, Care Homes and the YMCA. This is where YMCA Bournemouth/Poole…
We are a group of European volunteers doing our placement in different departments of YMCA Bournemouth. Now, as many people around the world, we are working from home and can perfectly understand that time is passing slowly and we need something fun to occupy ourselves during the day. We’ve been working so hard in some…
The YMCA has been serving people in this local community for over 140 years. Those who have gone before us lived through economic crashes, epidemics and wars; and we are all now called upon in this generation to serve humanity with that same compassion, hope, faith and dignity. We continue to draw upon the inspiration…
Following the Government’s decision on Friday 20 March 2020, we have closed The Junction Sports & Leisure Centre until further notice. The Junction Sports & Leisure Centre is a YMCA managed facility. We will continue to focus on and communicate with our service users/members via all platforms. Our invaluable employees will be fully supported, and we will as…
Nowadays, everyone needs to know how to use the computer. However there are still almost a quarter (24.3%) of adults can’t use the computer (World Economic Forum, 2017). On top of this, only 5% of the population have reached the most proficient level of computer knowledge. Excel is an essential tool for the workplace, as…
In the biggest ever event of its type in Dorset, on Saturday 16th November over 160 individuals, businesses and community organisations came together at the YMCA Bournemouth Big Sleep Easy to raise funds to combat homelessness and awareness of the issue. On a night when temperatures reached minus two degrees, fundraisers slept outside at the…
On Saturday 16 November this year, almost 200 representatives from local businesses will be bedding down under the stars at The Bournemouth Sports Club (Chapel Gate), near Bournemouth Airport, as part of our ‘Big Sleep Easy 2019’. The event is designed to raise awareness of local homelessness and fund projects that aim to keep individuals…
A belated congratulations to the three staffmembers who won our ‘Going the Extra Mile’ (GEM) Award for their contributions to the ongoing success of YMCA Bournemouth. The winners were Kerry Smith, the manager of Teddy’s Pre School; Rosie Wingrove, a relief practitioner at the YMCA Bournemouth Child Contact Centre; and Laura Giles, the manager of YMCA Lifewise Gym, Bournemouth and YMCA…
This summer, the HealthBus, a healthcare outreach service for rough sleepers operated by Boscombe’s Providence Surgery and supported by YMCA Bournemouth, received significant recognition of the value of its work when it was awarded a grant of £47,993 from the Nationwide Community Grants programme. The money will fund GP costs, insurance, nursing salary, drug/alcohol and…
Lauren Cooper, who is taking part in our Big Sleep Easy ‘Sleep Rough So Others Don’t Have To’ event on 16 November this year, was attending the British Insurance Brokers Association conference (BIBA 2019) when she entered a prize draw run by Q Underwriting, of which aQmen Underwriting is a part. As charity, faith and…
One of the UK’s leading construction and development companies, Watkin Jones, has donated £500 to YMCA Bournemouth’s youth work in Townsend, Bournemouth. The funds were raised as a result of the company introducing a weekly parking levy on contractors working at their site, The Helm (Telereal), in Bournemouth. Money raised by the scheme is distributed…
YMCAs across the country celebrated on Thursday 6 June 2019 to mark 175 years since 22 year-old draper George Williams joined 11 friends to organise the first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets of London. That…
