YMCA Barnsley’s detached youth media group, ‘GOBBLEDYGOOK NEWS TEAM,’ had the pleasure of interviewing Cllr John Clarke JP, Mayor of Barnsley 2024/25 earlier this year. the Mayor, his wife and Mayoress Mrs Clarke and their team at BMBC made us feel very welcome and gave us a wonderful history lesson about the town hall and its workings over the many years. The detached youth group liaised with the Mayor’s office, put together questions, set up cameras, microphones and other media gubbins, and edited the final version of the video we are cock a hoop to share with you today. Most of the group including staff had little if any experience in creating media beyond what we use day to day on our phones. It has been a fabulous journey, learning together new skills we can all take forward. If you have an idea for a feature, please get in touch via our usual YMCA Barnsley contact details.

Our latest Impact & Consultation Reports are now available, during 2024 we have continued to provide children and young people with safe, welcoming places to socialise, have fun, learn and access support from youth workers as well as opportunities to build core life skills around belonging, learning, coping, self-awareness and positive relationships. Our youth work is led by young people who shape projects from their inception; ensuring programmes are and need led. annual participant consultation survey helps our services to ensure they relevant aligned with the voices of in community. 

Download the Impact Report PDF report here:

We would like to say thank you to all our young people, partner organisations, volunteers, staff, funders and donors. Without your support none of this work would be possible.

A change is coming to YMCA Barnsley. Keep an eye out and see the changes externally and internally coming by May 2025.

With thanks to Levelling Up funding, BMBC administrative support, Currie & Brown Project Management, Bond Bryan Architects, Hydrock and JP Wild Construction, amongst others

We are incredibly grateful to have received a core costs grant from BBC Children In Need which will support us in doing all the background business which is essential to facilitate our main job of Youth & Children’s Work delivery. #CiN

October Half Term 2023 North Area Holiday Activties Posters for Parents Carers

Today YMCA England & Wales has released its latest campaign.

YMCA Barnsley is featured in this campaign as much of it was filmed and photographed at ‘Y Stay In’ last year and there is a short film featuring Archie one of our young volunteers.

We are thrilled and so proud to see our young people and youth workers featured in this campaign.

If you use the map feature on the web link you can see that Barnsley falls into the top 50% of local authorities for spending on youth services, however locally we know the impact of the cuts and there is still a need for a statutory increase in funding for youth services.

For more information see:

https://www.ymca.org.uk/generation-cut

View Archie’s story:

YMCA Barnsley and Chilypep are delighted to announce that they will receive funding for building renovations as part of Barnsley’s successful bid to the Government’s Levelling-Up Fund.

The Barnsley Futures bid has been awarded £10.2m, which will work towards helping transform young people’s cultural and wellbeing facilities in Barnsley.

Andrea Battye, Youth Work Manager at YMCA Barnsley, said, “The planned redevelopment of YMCA’s building in the heart of Barnsley will enable YMCA and Chilypep to continue to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for children and young people locally. It will go a long way to securing the future of the Young People’s Wellbeing Hub ‘H.O.M.E.’ based at YMCA Barnsley.

“The renovations will help to modernise our facilities, which will reduce our environmental impact and operating costs and contribute to our long-term viability as important providers of essential youth-led services for young people in Barnsley.”

H.O.M.E. provides an open-access space for young people to find support before they are in crisis and offers innovative, creative, therapeutic activities that support their mental health. Working alongside YMCA and other partners, H.O.M.E. is a service that offers holistic wrap-around support.

Lesley Pollard, CEO of Chilypep, said, “The success of Barnsley’s Futures bid is crucial to the vision of long-term emotional wellbeing for our young people. YMCA has provided vital open access youth work for over 100 years, and our partnership with YMCA Barnsley in developing H.O.M.E. is part of a national drive to provide early support hubs for young people.”

The £10.2m investment will also include the creation of an activity park in the town centre that will be co-produced by young people, support for Barnsley Youth Choir and the creation of the new Northern Academy for Vocal Excellence (NAVE), and a contribution to the major project to refurbish The Civic Cultural Centre.

YMCA is grateful to Barnsley Council for the opportunity to be a key partner in this bid. We look forward to working with all involved to bring these projects to life, increasing chances and improving outcomes for children and young people in Barnsley.

BMBC Press Release Levelling Up

Please find below information about the free activities YMCA Barnsley are delivering in the north and central areas of Barnsley over the October half term holidays. More information can be found on our YMCA Barnsley Facebook Page.

Booking is required for all activities. If you book a place but can no longer attend, please get in touch with us so that we can offer the place to someone else. To book please either message via Facebook or email us [email protected]