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At YMCA Lakeside we served over 7715 children, young people and adults in 2018/19. Many from deprived urban towns and inner city areas of the UK, providing them with life-changing experiential outdoor learning activities.

HOW WE IMPACT 

720 LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE

and children attended our Summer Day Camps

139 SCHOOLS

from accross the country brought children and young people to YMCA Lakeside.

66 YOUTH GROUPS

attended YMCA Lakeside on a residential experience with some coming from urban and deprived areas. 

Our Outdoor Education programme changed lives in 2018/19 by…

Improving education and employment skills

Increasing confidence, personal resilience and respect

Inspiring young people to aim high

YMCA Lakeside uses experiential learning to teach young people skills they may not necessarily learn inside of schools.

Outdoor Education at YMCA Lakeside is an immersive and holistic approach to learning, with young people taking on new responsibilities, taking risks in a controlled environment and reflecting on all that they have learnt during their time at YMCA Lakeside.

A letter from L’s mum about his Lakeside experience

In the months leading up to the residential L was very adamant that he didn’t want to go. It was only a week before you managed to encourage him to actually go, but in his words “he was going but wasn’t going to do all the activities he would just watch the others”. He did feel very anxious about going but the school had put him at ease and told him he wouldn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to.

Luke went on the residential and if I’m being honest I was expecting a phone call to go and get him. That never happened and on the day they were coming home we went along to pick him up. As he got off the bus his face was glowing with pride, the first words out of his mouth were “I could have stayed longer it was so much fun”.  L went on to say how much enjoyment he had gotten from all the activities and he couldn’t believe he had actually done every single activity. He was so proud of himself. There wasn’t anything he didn’t have a go at.

This changed his attitude and mind set to the challenges he meets in everyday life and since then has never looked back. He has tried and done lots of things he wouldn’t of before and that’s all because going to Lakeside gave him the self-esteem and confidence he needed and as a family we couldn’t be more grateful to the school for the encouragement they gave L.

 

Support our ‘Changing Young Lives’ Appeal for YMCA Lakeside

We could change 10,000 young lives per year with the new School Facility…

Improving education and employment skills

YMCA Lakeside is in the unique position to help young people develop the life-long skills and character traits that will allow them to reach greater academic success and, ultimately, to carve out strong career and work roles.

The skills young people develop at YMCA Lakeside are the same qualities that employers are crying out for; good communication, effective teamwork, proven leadership, problem solving, resilience and a positive ‘can do’ attitude to new challenges.

%

of young people felt that they had developed skills at YMCA Lakeside that would benefit them in future life

%

have improved their attitude towards learning

Increasing confidence, personal resilience and respect

For young people knowing that they have the resources, capabilities and skills they need to function in the world is the spring board to setting and reaching their goals and aspirations. Confidence and self-esteem empowers young people to face whatever challenges they encounter. 

%

will think of others more after their Lakeside Experience

%

of young people felt more confident after their Lakeside Experience

%

of young people felt they are more able to work effectively in a team after their Lakeside Experience

%

felt their behaviour had improved as a result of their Lakeside experience

Inspiring young people to aim high

YMCA Lakeside teaches young people that they can succeed in some of the most challenging situations.Through real experiences we encourage them to work hard, demonstrate commitment and to aim high and set goals. A visit to Lakeside can trigger lasting changes in young people that can take them in new directions.

Many young people from deprived backgrounds arrive at YMCA Lakeside with a poor outlook on their future, lacking confidence, having low self esteem and poor social skills.

%

feel more independent after their Lakeside experience

%

of teachers and youth group leaders felt that their young people had a more positive attitude towards them

%

have better relationships with classmates and teachers at school

%

feel more motivated after their Lakeside experience