Our 2023 Impact Report is now available to read online!
Packed with first-hand experiences from people we have supported and those who’ve supported us, take a 5-minute tea break and read about our charitable projects in East Surrey.
A huge thank you to everyone who told us their stories and to all our supporters and partners.
This review looks back on the developments and highlights between 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023 and beyond up to the time of going to press.
Ian Burks, CEO, YMCA East Surrey – introducing the 2023 Impact Report
“Welcome to our annual Impact Report which offers an insight into how the YMCA has helped local people to ‘belong, contribute and thrive’ over the last year.
Here at the YMCA, we pride ourselves on our inclusive approach, delivering specialist support for those with additional needs alongside universal services that everyone can benefit from. We believe all young people can succeed and we encourage everyone, regardless of their background or ability, to build on their strengths to become healthy, happy and fulfilled members of our community.
The last year has seen several key achievements including the completion of a 12 unit supported housing development for young people in Horley and a new five-year lease partnership with Surrey County Council to manage the Phoenix Youth Centre in Tadworth.
Probably the most notable accomplishment, however, has been our contribution to the transformation of mental health services for young people in Surrey. The impact of Covid has fuelled a wave of emotional difficulties amongst young people and the numbers requiring support are at an all-time high. To address this, we have more than doubled the therapeutic provision we offer to young people. Services include free counselling, wellbeing support in schools and themed youth groups focussing on early intervention to prevent issues reaching a crisis point.
Going forward the need for our services has never been greater as we face the continued fallout from the Covid pandemic, the looming cost of living crisis and growing conflict in Europe.
In response to new challenges trustees, staff and stakeholders have come together to devise a new five-year strategy and we are confident this will help us achieve optimum benefits for our communities in a sustainable way.
Our new strategy includes plans to expand YMCA services across all geographical areas of Surrey with a special emphasis on new housing that will reduce homelessness and help young people start their journey to independence. We are also determined to retain and develop the voluntary ethos of the YMCA, to embrace greater diversity and address our carbon impact.
The real key to success is our people and we are fortunate to have a team of passionate and skilled trustees, staff and volunteers who go the extra mile to help others. Nowhere is this more evident than amongst our Challenge participants, leaders and support crews who have cycled, trekked, and run over 21,000 miles and raised over £71k through their incredible feats of physical activity.
I hope you enjoy reading about our impact and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone connected to the YMCA for their valued contribution towards what has been achieved.”
You can read more from Ian Burks in the Annual Review foreword by downloading or checking out the digital version.
