Youth & Community Work

YMCA Barnsley exists to support children, young people and their families in Barnsley. We aim to empower young people by involving them in activities that stimulate, challenge and enable them to realise their potential and participate fully in their communities.

We provide positive opportunities and activities for children and young people in a safe environment where they are supported by qualified, experienced and skilled youth workers. Our programmes raise aspirations, build confidence and self-esteem and contribute to building emotional resilience and positive mental wellbeing.

  • TYI Monday (Short Breaks Activities for children and young people with SEND)
    Venue: YMCA Barnsley

– Children and Young People aged 8-11 Years – 4:00-6:00pm
– Young People aged 11-18 years – 6:30-8:30pm

TYI Monday is part of the Targeted Youth Support Short Breaks Provision in the Barnsley area we provide a range of creative youth club activities, opportunities for social interaction, meeting and making new friends, personal and social development and learning  new skills.

You can access these activities by referral through the short breaks panel.

“I feel like coming to YMCA to see my friends, I get to hang our with friends and staff are nice.” TYI Monday attendee.

“Chris loves to come to the YMCA each week, he can’t wait until Monday when he can come and be social with his friends and the staff.” Parent/ carer of a TYI Monday attendee.

    • Y Stay In Youth Club   

    A safe space for young people to socialise and get involved in a range of activities and opportunities and access support.  It is young people led which means that the ideas and views of the members often shape the activities and projects undertaken. Young people are supported by experienced and qualified staff and our purpose-built facility offers lots of space for different activities including: sports, gaming, arts & crafts, music and cooking.

    Age group: Young people aged 13 to 19 years. Venue: YMCA Barnsley Sessions: Wednesdays during term time with some holiday provision 5:30-7:30pm.

    “When I came to YMCA it makes me feel much more confident to speak to people and it makes me feel really safe.” Y Stay In attendee.

    Detached Youth Work 

    Detached youth work means we work on the streets, in parks and green spaces with young people usually within their neighbourhood.  Engaging with young people in their localities and offering programmes of positive activities as an alternative to anti-social and risk taking behaviours. We use games, arts, outdoor and environmental activities alongside wider family engagement and seek to work with young people to ensure they have a real voice.

    Sessions:  our detached teams work on Tuesday nights in and around Gilroyd and Dodworth, and on Thursday evenings Kexborough, Darton and surrounding villages with some holiday provision.

    “The staff are brilliant youth workers and are brilliant with the kids. They have fetched a lot of confidence out in my child. They always make the kids laugh.”  Parent / carer of a Youth Work attendee.

    • Little Y

    Opportunities for children to participate in positive play activities in a safe, friendly environment, providing space to play and have fun, develop personal and social skills and make new friends.

    Age group: 5-8 years. Venue: YMCA Barnsley   Sessions: 5-6pm, Thursdays during term time.

    • Juniors

    A programme of positive opportunities and activities for children and young people who live in the Central Area of Barnsley.
    Arts & crafts, sports, games, drama/dance, music, big arts projects, horticulture, gaming, bush craft, environmental, cookery activities,
    themed projects & so much more

    Age group: 8-14 years. Venue: YMCA Barnsley   Sessions: 6.30-8.30pm, Thursdays during term time.

  • Parent & Toddler Group

Providing opportunities for parents, carers, babies and toddlers to play and socialise with others in a safe, welcoming environment.
Venue: YMCA Barnsley   Sessions: 9.30-11.30am, Mondays during term time.

  • Peer Support & Young Volunteering

Providing opportunities for young people to contribute to the local community and raising the profile of young people engaged in positive activities for others. We offer regular meetings and activities to provide support along with training and development experiences in local, national and international forums. Young people play an active role in co-producing and leading provision for others as Young Trustees, Volunteers supporting delivery and as Peer Supporters acting a positive role models, mentoring and supporting other participants.

  • Unity Project

A programme of positive opportunities and activities that contribute to building the emotional resilience and wellbeing of children and young people who live in the Central Area of Barnsley.  Delivering after school clubs, youth clubs and holiday provision including: arts & crafts, sports, games, drama/dance, music, big arts projects, horticulture, gaming, bush craft, environmental, cookery activities, themed projects and so much more.

Age group: 10 -14 years   Venue: YMCA Barnsley & various locations in Dodworth, Central, Kingstone, Stairfoot & Worsbrough.

“It took me until I attended the February half term program to realise just how much my confidence had grown. It made me remember how in the October holidays I would sit in my own little group and not speak to anyone else. Now I interact with other young people and feel confident doing so.” Unity Project attendee.

  • Youth Resilience Project

A programme of positive opportunities and activities that contribute to building the emotional resilience and wellbeing of children and young people who live in the North Area and includes detached youth work, after school clubs and provision during the school holidays.

Age group: 10 -14 years. Venue: Schools and various locations in Kexborough, Darton, Mapplewell and Old Town.

  • Green Projects
  • We have an allotment and two community orchards which provide a wide range of environmental activities that offer children and young people opportunities to engage with the natural environment.