Supporting more than 32000 children, young people and families across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – how YMCA is responding to growing demand
A year-end reflection from YMCA Fairthorne Group CEO Phillipa Spicer on the challenges communities are facing and how the organisation is adapting to respond
As we come to the end of our financial year at YMCA Fairthorne Group, I’ve been reflecting on the difference our teams make every day for children, young people and families across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Across our Early Years, Youth Services and community work, thousands of people have been supported this year. Much of this work happens quietly and consistently, but the impact it has on people’s lives is meaningful.
At the same time, it’s clear that the need for support in our communities is growing. Families are under increasing pressure, more children are needing additional support in their early years, and young people are finding it harder than ever to access safe and affordable housing.
These challenges are shaped by wider social and economic pressures and as demand continues to rise, resources become increasingly stretched. It means charity’s like ours must constantly think about how we adapt, evolve and best focus our efforts on where they can make the greatest difference.
Looking back over the past year, three things particularly stand out to me.
Both the scale and complexity of need for our services continues to grow
Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight we are seeing increasing demand for support from children, young people and families.
In my recent blog on housing and YMCA’s national #BuildingFutures campaign, I reflected on the growing challenges young people face in finding safe and affordable housing. For many, the path to independence has become much more difficult to navigate, and services like ours are often a vital stepping-stone.
We are also seeing growing demand in Early Years, particularly for support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Ensuring children receive the right support early in life can make a profound difference to their development and wellbeing.
Early support and inclusive environments make a positive and lasting difference
One of the most encouraging developments this year has been the continued growth of our Early Years’ provision and the inclusive support we provide for children and families.
This spring we are opening Squirrels, a new baby room at YMCA Fairthorne Manor Nursery. It has been designed to create a calm and nurturing environment for our youngest children and will allow us to support even more families across the region.
Across our Early Years we continue to develop environments where every child feels welcomed, supported and able to thrive, including children with additional needs who may need extra help early in life. That support is embedded into every aspect of our care as an integrated rather than an add on service.
It’s the commitment of our people that makes the biggest difference
What stands out most when I reflect on the past year is the dedication, skill, hard work and kindness of our staff throughout YMCA Fairthorne Group.
Every day our teams unwaveringly support children taking their first steps in nursery, young people building confidence and independence, and families navigating difficult moments in their lives.
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Looking ahead
As we move into the next year, the challenges facing many families and young people are unlikely to ease. Demand for support is continuing to grow, and with that we must keep evolving and adapting to respond effectively.
That means strengthening the services that make the greatest difference, continuing to innovate where new needs emerge, and working closely with partners across our communities.
Next month we’ll also be bringing colleagues together for our first Common Ground Live event — an opportunity to reflect on the year just gone, celebrate the work happening across our services, and look ahead together to the next stage of our journey. Because whilst the demand on our services continues to grow so does our determination to respond and make a difference.
