YMCA was founded in London in 1844 and has been serving the Black Country since it’s arrival in West Bromwich in 1888.
YMCA has had a presence in West Bromwich since 1888, starting on St Michael’s Street then moving to our current site on Carters Green in the 1960s. Since then, we have grown to have over 20 locations across the Black Country and Staffordshire borders, providing vital services to build thriving communities through housing, nurseries, wellbeing support, training and advice.
We want to celebrate our rich history of service, empowerment, and community building through captivating exhibits and stirring testimonials. As we reflect on our past achievements, we also look ahead to the future with programs and initiatives aimed at addressing the evolving needs of our diverse community.
Donate to our 180° Fund
Invest in the future and help local young people turn their lives around
To mark the YMCA 180 years milestone, we’ve set up the 180° Campaign; we’re asking 180 businesses to donate £180 in order to help us raise £32,400 in order to fund the salary for a dedicated youth worker or a series of projects that are designed specifically to support the needs of local young people.
The stories shared by our members over our vast history show the impact YMCA has had to communities across the Black Country and in order for us to continue our life changing work, we rely on donations in order to help us run certain services; specifically youth work.
In recent years, YMCA research through our D£valued and On The Ropes Reports has shown that due to funding cuts, local authority spend on youth services has reduced by around 70%. We believe every young person should have access to youth services in their area, all year round. We want to increase the impact our work can have on young people in our communities and in recognition of 180 years of YMCA we’ve created the 180º Fund.
Through having a safe space to hang out, with people they can trust, we can help the next generation truly belong, contribute and thrive in their community. Everyone deserves a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become, the 180° fund will help us do that.
Share your YMCA Story
To celebrate the YMCA 180 year heritage we’d love to hear your stories of how YMCA supported you. Perhaps you’re an ex-resident, or maybe you took your child to our first day nursery, maybe you remember when we had squash courts!
If you have memories or stories to share about your time at YMCA please complete the short form below and give as much detail as you can.
We’ll be collecting these stories as part of a history exhibition and may even approach you to be part of a video project. If you’re happy to be contacted, please leave your details and our team will be in touch to discuss in more detail.
Founders Day Celebration Event
Saturday 28th June 2024
As part of our YMCA 180 celebrations, we are holding a celebration day at our YMCA site on Carters Green, West Bromwich.
It will be a chance to celebrate all things YMCA and showcase our range of services, through interactive sessions, free fitness taster classes, a stay-and-play in our nursery and much much more.
There’s something for the whole family, with children’s entertainment, engaging workshops and at the end of it all, why not pop to our onsite coffee shop for a Founders Day cupcake and a coffee.
There will also be an opportunity to share your thoughts on what you’d like to see YMCA do more of; how can we contribute even more to the Black Country community? What activities will support you and your family to feel like you have a sense of belonging? How can we ensure that the next generation can thrive in their future?
Entry is free and all are welcome – join us and celebrate the next 180 years of YMCA.