We are thrilled to announce that YMCA Fairthorne Group has been recognised as one of the UK’s 126 Best Big Places to Work for 2026 by The Sunday Times – a landmark achievement that reflects the heart and soul of everything we do.

For a charity rooted in community, driven by purpose and powered by people, this recognition means everything. We are proud to be one of just 25 charitable organisations on this year’s list, and one of only two YMCAs from the England and Wales Federation to receive this honour. In a list spanning some of the UK’s most respected employers, being counted among them is something the entire YMCA Fairthorne Group family can celebrate.

What Our CEO Says

Chief Executive Officer Phillipa Spicer said:

“Being named one of the Best Big Places to Work is a testament to every person in our team. Our people are at the heart of everything we do — from staff supporting young people in our accommodation services to volunteers giving their time at community events. When people feel valued and inspired at work, they create extraordinary outcomes for the people we serve, and we’re committed to making the charity an even better place to work in the years ahead.”

A Truly Outstanding Achievement – and Here’s Why

To understand just how significant this recognition is, it is worth pausing to consider what it actually means to make this list.

The Best Big Places to Work category covers large organisations – those with substantial workforces, complex operations and the full range of challenges that come with scale. Across the UK, there are thousands of organisations of this size: national charities, housing associations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, local authorities, social enterprises and many more. Every one of them is competing for talented, committed people. Every one of them would love to be able to say they are among the best employers in the country.

Only 126 made the list. YMCA Fairthorne Group is one of them.

This is not an award that can be applied for, bought or lobbied for. It is determined entirely by the people who work and volunteer within an organisation – real feedback, independently assessed, with no room for spin. In a field of thousands of comparable organisations, being ranked among the top 126 is a remarkable distinction. It places YMCA Fairthorne Group in a genuinely elite group of UK employers, and we could not be prouder.

What makes this even more extraordinary is the context. Lord Mark Price, founder of WorkL, noted that more organisations than ever entered this year’s awards – meaning the competition was fiercer than it has ever been.

So not only did we make the list in the most competitive year to date – we did so with scores that were higher across the board than previous years. That is a testament to the genuine, sustained effort our organisation puts into making YMCA Fairthorne Group a place where people truly want to work.

What is The Sunday Times Best Places to Work?

The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list is one of the most prestigious and widely recognised workplace accreditations in the UK. Compiled annually by WorkL – a leading employee engagement platform – in partnership with The Sunday Times, the list is built entirely on employee feedback and data, making it a genuine and independent measure of what it’s like to work somewhere.

A Charity Built on People

YMCA Fairthorne Group has been part of the fabric of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for over 75 years. From our roots delivering outdoor education and childcare at Fairthorne Manor, we have grown into a wide-ranging community charity that touches thousands of lives every year.

Today, we provide:

  • Supported accommodation for around 200 young people, giving them the safe home and stability they need to build a future
  • Early years childcare across multiple settings, supporting families from the very start
  • Outdoor education programmes at Fairthorne Manor, inspiring children and young people through nature and adventure
  • Community branches and programmes across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, open to all

Behind every one of these services is a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who bring the YMCA’s mission to life every single day. It is they who have made this award possible – and it is they who deserve the recognition.

Why this matters – beyond the award

At YMCA, we have always believed that everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become. That belief applies just as much to the people who work and volunteer with us as it does to the young people and families we serve.

We know that when our people feel supported, empowered and proud of where they work, the impact ripples outward into every life our charity touches. A member of staff who feels valued will go the extra mile for a young person in our accommodation.

As WorkL’s research consistently demonstrates, the link between employee happiness and organisational performance is clear and compelling. For a charity like ours, that performance is measured not in profits but in lives supported, opportunities created and communities strengthened.

This award tells us that we are getting that balance right. In a year when thousands of organisations entered, and competition was at an all-time high, it tells us something more: that YMCA Fairthorne Group stands among the very best places to work in the United Kingdom. That is an extraordinary thing, and we are incredibly proud.

Be part of our story

We are always looking for wonderful, passionate people to join us and help make a difference in the communities we serve. If that sounds like you, explore our current opportunities on our careers page.