Housing & Homelessness Education & Young People
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YMCA Black Country Group

Impact Report 2025

YMCA Black Country Group (charity no. 1086320) is an inclusive Christian charity supporting young people and communities across Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton. The 2025 Impact Report covers 5,880 individuals supported, 131,185 bed nights for young people who would otherwise be homeless, 1,222 moved into work or training, 523 children in nurseries and the launch of a new five-year 'SHAPE of Communities' strategy, alongside the April 2025 merger with Living Springs to extend support to vulnerable families.

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About

Early Years: 8 day nurseries across the Black Country (523 children, 94% of places funded through government support, bespoke curriculum; Early Years Apprenticeship Academy in third year, 10 new apprentices September 2025, 12 from previous cohort secured permanent roles at Level 2/3); Youth Café pilot at West Bromwich site (West Brom Building Society Foundation funded, 20 children first week, peaking at 52 young people); Home Education Cultural Kitchen at City Gateway Wolverhampton (12-16 children, cooking/baking sessions across cultures and cuisines). Health and Wellbeing: YGym West Bromwich (737 members, 18 weekly classes, 7 days a week, chaplaincy and on-site chapel access); Making Connections social isolation project Walsall (third year, 30+ residents per year matched with Social Connectors). Housing: Y-Living affordable housing (147 flats across Black Country, 30 additional flats in latest Dixon's development for young couples and single individuals); YMCA Host Families (114 teenagers in spare rooms); merger with Living Springs (April 2025, 9 families including 15 children supported fleeing domestic abuse or homeless due to pregnancy/overcrowding). Training and Education: Sandwell Youth Hub (third year, 2,038 individuals, 322 mentored, 60% secured work placements or employment, target surpassed every year); Digital Divide project Walsall (West Midlands Combined Authority funded, digital skills workshops and 1-to-1 support, Introduction to IT, Introduction to AI, Canva workshops at Walsall Maker Fest). Support and Advice: Glebe Centre Walsall (homelessness, substance misuse and poverty support, shower/toilet facilities, 261 cook and eat sessions per year, chaplaincy weekly visits). Christian Mission: Together Festival, Unify conferences UK and Europe (16 Black Country staff attended UK Unify), YMCA Chaplaincy Essential Training (YCET) six-week course launched for volunteer chaplains; 57 individuals supported through chaplaincy conversations; 50 prayer requests (June-October 2025)

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 Total income £10,019,755 and total expenditure £9,525,116 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1086320); 5,880 individuals supported to belong, contribute and thrive across 24 YMCA locations in the Black Country; 570 individuals called YMCA home
Key Metric 2 131,185 bed nights provided to young people who would otherwise be homeless; 200,500 hours of funded early years education provided; 1,222 young people moved from receiving benefits into work or training; 523 children developing in nurseries across the Black Country
Key Metric 3 114 teenagers offered a safe home in YMCA Host families' spare rooms; 322 young people engaged with YMCA mentors to overcome barriers to employment; 737 people prioritising health and wellbeing at YGym West Bromwich; 261 hot meals provided to vulnerable people in Walsall

Key Outcomes

  • 60% of Sandwell Youth Hub young people secured work placements or employment through partner organisations; 94% of early years places funded through government support; 12 Early Years apprentices from 2024 cohort secured permanent employment; 9 families supported to flee domestic abuse since April 2025 merger with Living Springs
  • New five-year strategy 'SHAPE of Communities 2025-2030' launched (Safe, Healthy, Aspirational, Protected & Sustainable, Engaged); merger with Living Springs completed April 2025 extending support to vulnerable families and young parents; Y-Living Dixon's development adding 30 new flats for young couples; Youth Café pilot launched September with West Brom Building Society Foundation funding
  • 27 regular dedicated volunteers; SHAPE Champion working groups established across all five strategic areas; 9 families including 15 children supported since Living Springs merger; Unify European conference contributed to by Black Country team; Sandwell Youth Hub surpassed targets in all three years of operation

Geography

West Midlands

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