At YMCA, we aim to give young people a voice, and part of that involves actively working with Youth Ambassadors, who want to use their experiences and knowledge to help create meaningful change. At YMCA Fairthorne Group, our Youth Ambassador, Rosie, has recently taken part in her first residential, an annual weekend to empower, connect, and learn.
Almost a year ago, I became a Youth Ambassador for YMCA England and Wales. Last month, I attended my Youth Ambassador Residential at YMCA Derby. It was a productive mix of learning, collaboration, and team-building.
The purpose of the residential is to reflect on the previous year, identify areas for improvement in the Youth Ambassador programme, and complete relevant training.
What is the Youth Ambassador Programme?
This YMCA Programme brings together young people from YMCA’s across England & Wales, to actively represent the opinions, needs and beliefs of young people.
What the residential entailed
Day One
The day started with an overview of the England and Wales Housing Campaign, which aims to deliver 10,000 new homes by 2030. The session was designed to help us understand how we can support it moving forward. This was followed by a presentation from the CEO of YMCA Derby. The day ended with a chance for all the Youth Ambassadors to socialise and connect.
Day Two
The day began with an official photoshoot, then a workshop on campaigning and storytelling, highlighting the importance of narrative and practical campaign skills. It was also inspiring to hear from the England and Wales campaigns team about the planning and effort behind nationwide initiatives. Overall, the residential was extremely valuable, boosting my confidence in my Youth Ambassador role.
What this opportunity has given me
In just under a year, being a Youth Ambassador has provided me with training on a variety of different areas, including debate training, campaigns, and public speaking. It has also helped me grow in confidence, both personally and professionally. Finally, it has also given me connections across the country. I personally found the residential a good way to connect and share with other ambassadors from across the UK.
Reflection
Being a Youth Ambassador has opened my eyes to the charity I work for. As a member of the commercial side of the organisation, I believe it is important for me to recognise and support the work done by our Youth Services across the UK, but particularly by our brilliant team here at YMCA Fairthorne Group, who support young people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, providing them homes, and the best services to build their future.
