November Newsletter YMCA North Staffordshire

YMCA NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE Newsletter November 2018

Music 4 Mental Health Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, and Anne-Marie are among the names confirmed to play the first ever ‘Music 4 Mental Health’ gig

#IAMWHOLE

YMCA175 - Page 2

As part of #IAMWHOLE in partnership with the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), The Mix and YMCA, the event will also feature performances from James Arthur and Ella Eyre, with Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens acting as compere.

‘Music 4 Mental Health’

“Music is a language will take place at The that everyone Roundhouse in London on understands and November 18, tickets are has the power to sold out. unite people from all walks and thoughts of life,” said Stephens. “I can already feel the conversation opening up in regards to mental health so now it’s time to take action and really help people.

“With these great charities and the support of the music industry, we have a chance at doing something amazing.”

#IAMWHOLE Page 3

In this issue

2019 London Marathon - Page 4

Remembrance Service - Page 1

Ben Nevis Success - Page 5 Young Person Editor-in-Cheif. Page 6

YMCA North Staffordshire

Newsletter Nov 2018

YMCA helped the war effort, having huts in and around the war zones.

Youth Matters Awards YMCA Youth Matters Awards is a national annual event, which celebrates the achievements of young people, staff and volunteers.

YMCA North Staffordshire has a rich history with Youth Matters Awards. In 2014 YMCA North Staffordshire won ‘YMCA of the Year’ and in 2016, our First for Mums project won the ‘Family Work Project of the Year Award’.

Remembrance Service

A group of young people and staff will be attending this years event that coincides with a residential to the capital city. Mel Sheldon will lead the trip.

YMCA Norfolk, YMCA East Surrey, and our Staffordshire friends at YMCA Burton are up for the big prize of ‘YMCA of the Year’ at this year’s celebration.

Twelve coveted awards are up for grabs during the inspiring night of celebration and recognition in central London.

Join us on Friday 9 November as we remember the lives of the heroes who fought for freedom, justice and the hope of peace.

Kevin Burrows, Christian Spiritual Development Worker will lead the service along with other guest speakers.

2018 marks 100 years since the end of the First World War. YMCA followed soldiers to the front line and various other sites Friday 9 November during the conflict. As the wounded returned, 10:45 - 11:15 YMCA found itself YMCA North Staffordshire working alongside the Royal Army Medical “We will remember them” Corps and Red Cross in hospitals and convalescent camps, helping relatives to visit their sons. Within the first fortnight of war being declared, 250 social centres or ‘huts’ for troops were operating and within the first month, the YMCA Women’s Auxiliary was formed.

By 1916 the total number of huts had grown to 1,500.

These huts were located in training camps, garrison and transit towns, at railways stations and wherever British troops were serving abroad (Yapp, 1919; 1927).

Winner from Youth Matters, 2016

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Community Meal - Nov UNISON Retired Members Group comes back to host the FREE Community Meal.

The UNISON Retired Members Group last held

YMCA 175 In YMCA’s landmark anniversary year, YMCA175 will harness the energy, creative vision and solutionfocused approach of thousands of young leaders drawn from more than 100 countries representing six continents of the world.

YMCA leaders and young people will gather in the city where it all began back in 1844.

London will be home to YMCA175, a landmark event that will see YMCA young leaders assemble for a monumental and historical event. London’s premier exhibition centre, Excel. Organised by YMCA Europe, hosted

by YMCA England & Wales and supported by other YMCA movements including World YMCA. More to follow.

Staffordshire Youth Commission HATE crime, knife crime, and mental health will be among the subjects tackled by the Staffordshire Youth Commission.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis, was joined by senior police and fire officers, local authorities, safer neighbourhood panels, teaching staff from local schools and colleges and Youth Commission members at Tuesday’s (October 23) event at Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium.

the Community Meal back in 2017 and YMCA North Staffordshire is delighted to have them back in to host the Community Meal.

Home favourites include, Staffordshire Lobby and Bubble & Squeak.

Ann Harvey, a member of the group said: “When we do the Community Meal, we are like the grandmas of YMCA cooking traditional home favourites.”

Young People at the Youth Commission

The Youth Commission consists of members aged 14-25 years from a range of backgrounds across Staffordshire and Stokeon-Trent. The Big Conversation event that was attending by YMCA North Staffordshire will draw on the conclusions, based on the views of 2000 young people from across the county. The Youth Commission will then tackle these five core areas: Knife and Gang Crime, Abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation, Mental Health, Community Breakdown, Hate Crime, and Exclusion.

YMCA North Staffordshire proudly hosts the Youth Commission when they meet for their Saturday discussions and debates.

For more info please visit: www.staffordshire-pcc. gov.uk

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Staffordshire Youth Commission is a youth-led research project which communicates young people’s concerns of crimes, youth issues and has a say on how crime is tackled.

YMCA North Staffordshire

Newsletter Nov 2018

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce indoor picnic

#IAMWHOLE #IAMWHOLE is an anti-stigma mental health campaign. The campaign was launched on World Mental Health Day, 10th Oct. Now, this biggest health concern of a generation, mental health difficulties are costing young people their relationships, education, employment prospects, and without action, their lives.

WHOLE HOUR was the main message during this years campaign. WHOLE HOUR aims to recognise and champion the importance of self-care and taking time to look after your mental health.

YMCA International Prayer Week

During the day, YMCA North Staffordshire took young people to the New Vic Theatre for a workshop around Mental Health and gave staff and young people the space to take a WHOLE HOUR for themselves. Some staff went to the Chapel for a peaceful rest and talk and some staff and young people went to Hanley Park.

Try taking a WHOLE HOUR and see what it can do for you.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce also joined us by hosting an indoor picnic for their staff.

World Week of Prayer is November 11 - 17, 2018 and during the week (Monday to Friday) we will hold special prayer and reflection mornings in the Chapel from 8:30 am.

Daily themes for this years YMCA International Prayer Week:

For over a century, the YWCA and YMCA movements have issued a joint call to pray in the month of November

Day One: Created for Good

This is an important reminder of the spiritual vision that drives their efforts to create a better world for all people. The week presents an opportunity for the YWCA and YMCA movements to pray and act together on a shared issue with members around the world.

Day Six: Live for Good

For 2018, after a YMCA World Council full of energy and youth empowerment, the YMCA is leading on the development of the booklet under the theme: “Youth Empowerment for Good�.

Day Two: Enabled for Good Day Three: Challenged for Good Day Four: Overcoming for Good Day Five: Transformed for Good Day Seven: Celebrate for Good

Prayer Week has been held annually for over 100 years

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YMCA GO! during their #IAMWHOLE night

London Marathon 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Missed out on a space at this year’s London Marathon? We have places for 2019.

Why run for YMCA? By joining Team YMCA you will help us continue our life-changing work supporting young people and local communities across England and Wales including North Staffordshire.

Team YMCANS with runner, Jerahl.

Jerahl Hall ran the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon for YMCA and raised a total of £2000 of which £1200 has come back to YMCA North Staffordshire to support young people’s activities.

Do you have a story for YMCA?

Why not join Team YMCA today. As part of Team YMCA, you will receive VIP treatment, including A fundraising pack full of tips and advice, a high-quality YMCA running vest and support on the day from a YMCA designated cheer point.

YMCA North Staffordshire is looking to publish monthly newsletters. This will help you to communicate your good work and efforts.

Please speak with the Communications Team and get your message to a wider audience than just your department. We are looking for stories, upcoming and past events, introductions, news and much more.

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Contact eve.chadha@ymca.org.uk

YMCA North Staffordshire

Newsletter Nov 2018

Ben Nevis A group of young people and staff have been triumphant in climbing Ben Nevis.

The group has worked hard over the past couple of weeks by attending circuit classes at Y-Active Leisure Centre. Sue Lunt has put them through their paces to get them prepared for their big challenge.

Young People and Staff at the summit of Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles.

Standing at 1,345 metres above sea level. We wish the team all the best, keep an eye out on our social media for pictures. Lead by Staff and an experienced mountain leader they managed the feat Thursday evening.

Mel Sheldon with two awards she won on the night

Christmas Celebration Christmas is fast approaching. We all ask that question “Where has this year gone?�

Before the year is out, we hold a special night in December where young people, staff, volunteers, partners and our trustees all come together to celebrate the successes of the year.

During the night we give out Ten awards including awards for a Prom King, Prom Queen Young Achiever of the Year, to name a few.

The night finishes with music and a few dodgy dance moves. Again, like the previous two years, our annual event will be held at the LRV in Staffordshire University. It is important to share these moments and to celebrate the successes of the organisation. Our Christmas

Celebration is our main event during a two-week period that is full of Christmas activities.

Nominations are now OPEN Now that the nominations are open, do you know someone involved with YMCA North Staffordshire who is deserving of recognition?

The results from the vote will be collated and added Nominations sheets and emails to scores given from our will be sent in the next week and panel of judges to decide will close Friday 9 November the overall winners. Winning an award can be special and inspiring, and even being nominated can have a huge impact on the confidence and self-belief of our young people, staff and volunteers.

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Waste and Recycling YMCA North Staffordshire joins Stoke City Council’s Waste Management Service.

One of World YMCA’s four areas of work is the Environment. World YMCA has actively advocated for better stewardship of our environment and at YMCA North Staffordshire we aim to do just that. Currently, our efforts include solar panels. The Solar panels have been situated on the roof of Grace Crescent for a number of years. Now we aim to go that extra mile to become a more environmentally friendly organisation.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal: Climate Action

Recycling is very important as waste has a huge negative impact on the natural environment. Harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses are released from rubbish in landfill sites. Recycling helps to reduce the pollution caused by waste and reduces the need for raw materials. For example wood and paper, which will preserve our rainforests.

YMCA North Staffordshire is trying to improve our environmental footprint, and taking a step towards this by having a recycling initiative where we can now recycle household plastic, food tins and drink cans, aerosols, cartons, foil, mixed glass, foil trays, and cardboard.

Thomas Radford: This month’s Editor-in-Chief Hello, I am Thomas and in the past couple of months, I have had experiences and moments that will change my life, forever. Srebrenica to Staffordshire University.

Thomas in the office working away on his assingments.

call my friends. Bosnia was an amazing experience and the discovery will always stay with me. On my return I received a letter, a moment you could say was magical - it wasn’t Hogwarts calling stating I was a wizard, it was better than It all started with a visit to Srebrenica in that. My letter from Staffordshire University was a confirmation Bosnia. I did not know of the atrocities that of a place on the Step Up to HE Certificate Award. I have been on one took place in Bosnia, but when I discovered amazing journey and now and learned about the history, I was privileged “At the moment, I am looking I am currently on another to be able to go and pay my respects. Before journey. Two journeys that will forward to completing the Step we left for Bosnia, we fundraised by hosting change my life for the better.

Up course, and helping the YMCA a Bosnian themed Community Meal as well I have had an amazing couple Football Team in the league as holding Raffles. BozSquad - a self coined of months. I hope that I can name given to our group - that was full of inspire others around me to amazing and inspiring people, people I now strive for their journey - whatever that journey may be.

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Next Month...

As we enter December, we take a look back at our year and highlight some of the moments that have shaped our biggest year yet.

Keep up to date Like us on Social Media.

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YMCA North Staffordshire Edinburgh House Harding Road University Quarter Stoke-on-Trent ST1 3AE