become an integral part, but also to reach out into the wider community in a far more cohesive way. It will strengthen us and the local community, launching us into exciting and devel-oping times. Our work, be-ing supported by the Big Lottery Fund, will enable

us to reach around 750 young people annually.”

Alison Rowe, Big Lot-tery Fund’s Head of Re-gion, said: “WYMCA’s pilot project in the Barnsbury Estate proved very popular and was suc-cessful in tackling the bore-dom that young people in the area face. With this grant they will be able to meet the needs of many young people who may be up against barriers such as family problems, homeless-ness or behavioural issues, and help them look to a more positive future.”

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Of-fice: 020 7211 1888 Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572 Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 Textphone: 0845 6021 659

The Woking YMCA (WYMCA) is to roll out a new programme of support services for young people af-ter securing a £463,815 grant from the Big Lottery Fund announced today. Sheerwater, Maybury, Goldsworth Park and Barnsbury areas of Woking will all benefit.

The grant comes from BIG’s Reaching Commu-nities programme which aims to help those most

in need and build stronger communities.

Following on from a suc-cessful pilot in the Barnsbury Estate, WYMCA will offer youth work across the areas at least two evenings a week, and will provide a safe and supportive environment for young people who are mostly aged between 14 and 19.

The structured pro-gramme will give young people access to guidance, counselling and mentoring which will also help those who are not in employ-ment, education or train-ing.

Activities will include sports and fitness, drama, arts, music, dance and job search techniques, with signposting onto volun-teering, training, further education and employ-ment.

Terry Eckersley, CEO Woking YMCA said, “This funding will not only enable Woking YMCA to

Woking youth work expands

with over £460,000 Lottery

funding

NewsPod

Highlights

• Lottery Funding

• Apprentices

• Barnsbury

Awards

• Ypods New

Term

• Battle of the

Bands

October 1st Volume 1, Issue 1

Inside this issue:

Woking Youth work

Expands

1

The Apprentice

Team!

2

Ypods New Term 3

X Factor Star Prays 3

Awards Evening at

BarnsBury

4

Editorial 4

“WYMCA’s pilot

project in the

Barnsbury Estate

proved very popular

and was successful

in tackling the

boredom that

young people in the

area face”.

Page 2 NewsPod

We all have

different roles

but we are

living up to and

beyond our

expectations

for our roles.

apprentices I would like to say a very big thank you to the YMCA/Ypod and all the staff for taking us on for the next six months and a very warm welcome to everyone that uses the Ypod.

We are all looking for-ward to working with such a friendly team of staff and youths.

A bit about us:

We have been taken on by the YMCA on behalf of the Future Jobs Fund Scheme so that we can all learn new skills, work within a friendly team and to reach all of our ambitions in life.

When we first started our roles within our job titles we all did a two week induction within the Ypod. We covered thing such as First Aid, team building, child protection, CRB checks, housing opportunities for youths in the area and future plans for the Ypod.

Once a month we all go

Meet the new Ap-prentice team:

Ami Smith: Fundrais-ing/Information Of-fice

Bryony Stanford: Events Planning/Drop in

Chris Gaskin: Web/IT design

Charlotte Hallford: V-Involved/Cafe

Damian Otto: Events Planning/Drop in/Ypod Plus/Recording Studio

Dana Curtis Ynot/Events Planner/Ypod Extra /Children’s Centre at Sythwood

Gerald Curtis: Volun-teer Recruitment/ Events Planning

Kevin Parker: Facili-ties/Events Planning

Katie Wright: Chil-dren’s Centre/Café

Loz Turner: Events Planning/Drop in/Ypod Plus

Nicole Foreman: Con-ferencing/ Ypod Plus

Rebecca Casey: Chil-dren’s Centre Ypod/ Children’s Centre at Sythwood

Steve Lachoon: Ypod Extra/Drop in

On behalf of the

on an activity learning course in different groups. Last month we went to High Ashhurst and did team building skills, pole climbing, high ropes and low ropes. This month we went to Thames Young Mariners. We did kay-aking, rowing and raft building all within the River Thames.

We are all enjoying our work with the Ypod.

We all have different roles but we are living up to and beyond our expectations for our roles.

There are so many dif-ferent activities within the Ypod. We are all very pleased for the op-portunities we have been given in doing these activities and thank the staff for mak-ing us all welcome.

The Apprentice Team!

X Factor Star Prays

At Woking YMCA’s ‘Ypod’ youth centre in Woking we have a vari-ety of projects available for young people. We have a free Drop-In on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Thursday nights are also Music Night for musicians, singers, DJs, MCs and producers with our re-cording studio and per-formance stage avail-able to use for free. Outside of the Ypod you might occasionally see some of our youth work team out and about around Woking chat-ting to young people on the street as part of our ‘Detached’ pro-gramme and we also have a drop-in called Ypod Extra in Barnsbury on Mon-day nights.

At least once a month we run a large event for young people, for which there is usually a small charge to get in. Our

next event will be a ‘Battle of the Bands’ in October (call the Ypod if you want to audition). In the past we have run an under 18s night club event called ReYnd and Christmas parties.

As well as ‘general’ pro-jects we also run or host a few groups for young people in specific groups. On Monday af-ternoons we have a drop-in called Ynot for young people with ‘barriers to learning’ where a free lunch is provided and we host a youth club by the Na-tional Autistic Soci-ety. On Tuesday morn-ings we have a Young Parents Group where travel costs can be reim-

bursed. We also host two dance classes by ‘Boppin’ on

Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

By the end of 2010 we will have a supported hous-ing project in Woking with accommodation for up to 14 homeless young people and we will also be re-launching our Remix drug education project in partnership with local sec-ondary schools.

We will also have some new youth work staff starting work with us in October, thanks to The Big Lottery Fund, who will be working to extend our programme and opening hours even further!

What’s on at Ypod’s new term

Volume 1, Issue 1

Thursday

nights are

also Music

Night for

musicians,

singers, DJs,

MCs and

producers

with our

recording

studio and

performanc

e stage

available to

use for free.

Page 3

Alexandra Burke and JLS told the X Factor presenters on the show in 2009 that before every performance they would without fail, pray. Why would they pray?

Jesus told us to pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, Holy be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt6:9-10). In other words, Jesus told us to know God person-ally as Father and ask Him to do daily what He wants in our life by giving us days of heaven on earth.

Today, open your heart to prayer. God wants to Father you. If you let Him, you will truly experience heaven’s best in your life.

From the Chaplain’ Pen

sion, company car etc. But in exchange for this we may also have to live by certain constraints: wearing a uni-form, a certain period of your life being taken up to tasks not immediately rele-vant to your situation or life choice.

Working for the YMCA however, is slightly differ-ent. Because the aims of the YMCA are towards a com-munal rather than eco-nomical end, working is a way of giving other people in society more opportuni-ties. Therefore the ends of the working period of the individual are beneficial. Not only this, but given

Earlier in the day at time of writing, Terry, CEO asked me to write a piece on how working at the Woking YMCA was like having your pie and eating it (in my case, a scotch pie). Having your cake and eating it, the root phrase of expression, is simi-lar to the much used pleas-ure/pain theory; because good things happen to us bad things must also hap-pen. Consequently, when it comes to work, the benefits of work also apply to the pleasure/pain counter-balance. We may get benefits e.g. high levels of pay, pen-

that one can work and show enthusiasm at any level (e.g. volunteer, ap-prentice) there is room to grow and develop your role within the organisation. This fits in with the ethos of the government aims for Youth Work – to allow the advancement of one’s posi-tion within society. In this respect it’s a bit like a gold-fish in a bowl being put into a larger bowl. Or rather it should be an expandable bowl being constructed to accommodate a goldfish, which is a metaphorical equivalent for having you pie and eating it.

Editorial

Page 4 NewsPod

Because the Because the Because the Because the

aims of the aims of the aims of the aims of the

YMCA are YMCA are YMCA are YMCA are

towards a towards a towards a towards a

communal communal communal communal

rather than rather than rather than rather than

economical economical economical economical

end, working end, working end, working end, working

is a way of is a way of is a way of is a way of

giving other giving other giving other giving other

people in people in people in people in

society more society more society more society more

opportunities. opportunities. opportunities. opportunities.

Awards evening at Barnsbury’s Ypod Extra

Youth Centre

We held a V.I.P red carpet themed awards evening, to cele-brate all the achieve-ment that the youth people at Barnsbury Ypod Xtra Youth centre have had since re-opened last year.

The event took place on Monday 20th September at 7pm on the Barnsbury estate. Terry Eckersley CEO from Woking YMCA Ypod

Centre made a speech which was encourag-ing, meaningful and showing much faith in everything the youth people have done and further plans for them.

Councillor Derek McCrum also at-tended showing en-thusiasm towards the evening and sharing his thoughts on future plans for the centre

and the community. The evening was a great success. Terry Eckersley, Council-lor Derek McCrum, staff, youth people and parents all fully enjoyed the eve-ning that was conducted by the apprenticed from the Woking YMCA Ypod Centre. We would like to thank everyone who took part and came to the eve-ning.

Primary Business Address

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Phone: 555-555-5555

Fax: 555-555-5555

E-mail: someone@example.com

Woking YMCA Ypod Centre

Your b usi nes s tag l ine here .

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