YMCA

What we Offer to Young People

YMCA Cornerstone House provides accommodation for up to 25 young people aged between 16 and 19 years old.  We offer high-level housing support and will take direct applicants but we are unable to accommodate people with severe mental health problems, drug addition, alcohol addition, some behavioural problems and learning difficulties.  We accept referrals from Connexions, Social Services, Youth Offending Team and Probation as well as any other agencies, hostels or education establishments that work with young people.

Support

All the young people that are accommodated here will be allocated a support worker that they will be expected to meet with on a regular basis.  A support plan will be drawn up and the young person will be expected to work towards their goals.  These may be related to education, life skills or even rebuilding relationships with family.  The support plan is regularly updated and focuses on the needs of the young person.

Training Opportunities

All residents are encouraged to take part in some kind of training programme, either in house or externally and complete modules of a life skills programme that will soon be in place.  We welcome on-going support from external agencies that are involved in the care of the young person.

Accommodation Arrangements

The majority of the residents that are accommodated here will be eligible for income support, job seekers allowance and housing benefit.  Residents are expected to pay a small amount of rent each week and must provide their own food.  Rooms are fully furnished and the building is split into clusters with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities between 3 or 4 people.  We also have computer suite, laundry and common room.

 

THE LEARNING PROJECT

Background to Learning.net

Bedford YMCA has been in existence since 1991.  With the opening of the IT suite in March 2005, we wanted to be able to put together a Life Skills Programme, which residents from both hostels could access.

Project Aims

To increase literacy, numeracy and IT skills to motivate young people into work and further training and education.  Also to give disadvantaged young people a sense of achievement and a qualification.

Communities and groups targeted

Disadvantaged young people accessing Bedford YMCA, many of which have had no formal education or achieved any qualifications.  Age group 16-25.

Project Outcomes (impact, achievements)

It has been a lot harder than anticipated to motivate residents to take up the IT training available.  However, those who have attended have mostly achieved certificates and having the facility has benefited our residents.  Also, the Princes’ Trust has made use of the facility.

What made the project work well (what actions, decisions, processes contributed to success?)

Easy access – on-site training facilities/IT suite.  Friendly and helpful
staff running the project – young people centered.

Challenges (what did not work well or proved difficult?)

Getting residents to commit to a 5 or 6 week course proves very difficult to enable life styles and lack of structure in their lives.  Attendance often low – perhaps due to most activities being run in the morning.

What could have worked better (what would be useful for others to know).

Involving the young people more in deciding which activities would be more popular. 

Perhaps better communication could have improved this.


Contact Details

Operations Manager – Paul Hunt
Bedford YMCA
Cornerstone House
45-49 Tavistock Street
Bedfrod
MK40 2RE

Tel:  01234 307701
E:  paulh.bedfordymca@ntlbusiness.com


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