News & Events
Empowering Communities The latest phase of development of Newark’s exciting new YMCA Newark and Sherwood Community and Activity Village has begun, with provisional completion set for spring 2022. Made gets the low-down on what’s in store for young people, families and sports clubs…
Groundbreaking Todd Cauthorn and YMCA CEO Craig Berens.
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he new Community and Activity Village complex is the YMCA’s impressive flagship project in Newark, based on Lord Hawke way off Bowbridge Road and, is already home to athletic track, a multi-use games area and two 3G football pitches. As a non-profit charity with community needs at its heart, the core purpose of the YMCA’s multi-million-pound community investment will be to provide young people with a safe, caring and stimulating educational environment in which they can belong, contribute, and more importantly, thrive. With a contract signed with RG Carter construction, the YMCA have now officially broken ground on the development of the main Village building and are working towards a provisional completion date of spring 2022. Planning permission is already in place for the entire project, which is being supported by a number of charitable trusts, community grants and fundraising events. Dedicated to promoting youth development and social responsibility in the local area, plans for the Village’s main building will accommodate everything from youth training, education provisions
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Artist's impression of the Newark South-East elevation.
and childcare through to health and fitness facilities and a community hub. The not-for-profit community space is driven entirely by the firm belief that everyone deserves a chance to benefit from a broad range of educational and activity facilities for health, wellbeing and development. It’s a belief and mission that reflects the core value of the YMCA. The Newark and Sherwood division stems back to 1871 when it was opened by a group of friends for people in Nottinghamshire, and it has been bringing positive support to communities ever since. In collaboration with Nottinghamshire YMCA, 2018 saw the launch of YMCA Newark and Sherwood as its own independent charity, shaped by local people with the aim to support local aspirations and challenges. The concept of the Village is a clear testament to the commitment the YMCA is making to the area and follows an intense period of in-depth study and critical appraisal on the diversity of needs and challenges of the Newark and Sherwood communities. In particular, following national reports that alarmingly Newark and Sherwood has ranked as one of the worst areas in the country for
social deprivation, with some wards facing life expectancies a dismal ten years less than the UK national average. The new Village will offer a lifeline to Newark and Sherwood and as such has garnered huge support not just across the region but on a national level. Regional supporters include Nottinghamshire County Council, Newark Town Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council and FCC Communities. Including the existing facilities, the entire development will cost approximately £16.5m - with the second phase alone costing £11.5m. The project has benefitted from incredible input from various funding streams ranging from D2N2, Football Foundation together with their partners at the Premier League and The FA (on behalf of the government), and Triodos community investment initiatives to name just a few. The team at the YMCA are also continuing to work with key stakeholders to secure essential funding to ensure the project benefits fully from its vision. It’s a worthy example of how a truly collaborative venture will unlock lifeshaping opportunities for everyone in Newark and its surrounding areas.
