Paisley YMCA praised by local MP

The YMCA in Paisley was recently praised by Douglas Alexander MP who paid the association a visit meeting with some of the street youthwork team, volunteers and staff. The following report was posted by the MP on his website.....

Photo: Douglas and some of the Street Team squad

YMCA - Inspiring Street Team

Inspiring work by the YMCA on Paisley's Street

Douglas Alexander MP was delighted to visit Paisley's YMCA office in the High Street where he met with manager Mark Drummond and some of his team.

Douglas said

"It was good to visit the bright YMCA offices, in a great central location, right in the heart of Paisley's High Street. The YMCA offices support other Paisley organisations, which add to the community hub set-up there, but I was most impressed talking to Paisley manager Mark and his team about the huge effort and commitment they have for local youth. The projects already being achieved and the future goals are commendable. Their enthusiasm to make a difference was very obvious."

 "Particularly inspiring is the Street Team, who walk in the local central area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, approximately from 6:30 to 9:30."

" As the rest of the shops close up for the night and gradually various groups of young teenagers start to gather in random dark doorways and small meeting places, the Street Team go out to meet and talk with the youngsters.

"They are not out to preach or reprimand but are primarily interested in the safety of the local youth. The age group they meet are usually from 13 to 17.

"The Street Team simply aims for relaxed chat with the groups, though pointing out possible dangers of hanging around the town centre at night, and encouraging ideas from the young folk about how the YMCA might provide activities interesting enough to bring them in from the cold."

"On the freezing icy Friday night I met the Street Team, they were as keen as ever to get out there to help. Parents worrying when their young teenager has gone out in the evening and wonder if they have travelled into the town centre will welcome the fact that there are some people out there trying to keep a look-out for youngsters."

"For more information about how you could become involved with the YMCA in Paisley, call Mark on 0141 889 2876"

YMCA manager Mark Drummond said, "Paisley YMCA has a long and lasting relationship with young people across the town of Paisley.  This latest initiative continues the relationship and it is hoped over time that those who we engage with will begin to consider more positive outcomes for their lives and communities they come from.  The opportunity to meet Douglas and discuss the encounters of the street team to date has encouraged them and to consider that their impact does not go unnoticed and will be promoting Paisley YMCA as an organisation that responds to the needs of its young inhabitants."

Notes:

The YMCA is the largest and oldest youth charity in the world, firmly believing that all young people deserve to have a safe place to live and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

YMCA is part of a global Christian youth work organisation founded in 1844 in London. It spread rapidly through Scotland with 62 associations established by 1876. Now the YMCA operates in over 120 communities across Scotland, seeking to support young people to achieve their fullest potential, particularly those who struggle to cope well with the challenges that life brings them

Throughout the war years YMCA became well known for supporting families and those returning home from the front. In addition the British movement ran over 10,000 centres offering comfort, postal services and support to soldiers in the trenches during WW1.

Paisley YMCA has relocated to new premises adjacent to the original building on High Street. The association has launched a community/voluntary hub which is already full and creating a real buzz with several local charities sharing the YMCA premises and services. Paisley YMCA's main building on the High Street is currently rented out to Reid Kerr College.

Since the mid 1900s there has been much development of YMCA's work across Scotland in tandem with a more sophisticated approach from government to work with young people.

This development included a growing expertise and capacity for the YMCA to develop best practice work in a number of fields including working with families, providing accommodation and support services, work with churches, with minority groups and with challenging young people.

These past years have shaped the YMCA in Scotland as we see it today with the faithful service and investments of wise stewards establishing a sustainability and a permanence to our work that looks forward to another 150 years.