YMCA Bournemouth has revealed an all-time high demand for its support services in 2022 – with over 2,000 sessions delivered for its housing support and counselling services so far.

The charity has been helping tackle various social concerns in the county – from housing and education to health and wellbeing – which have been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.

Among its key services, YMCA Bournemouth has provided temporary housing for 175 individuals this year. It has also delivered 1,158 one-to-one support sessions to equip residents with the skills and confidence they need for a positively independent long-term future.

Gareth Sherwood, Chief Executive Officer at YMCA Bournemouth commented: “The whole team at YMCA Bournemouth has worked incredibly hard this year to support our local community - and the statistics outlining the aid delivered speak for themselves.

"While demonstrating the significant efforts of our team, these figures also demonstrate the public’s sheer demand for support, which is worrying in itself. With the cost-of-living crisis showing no signs of waning, demand will no doubt continue to rise, and more work needed to be done to help those in need.”

YMCA Bournemouth recently launched a new public low-cost counselling service in response to increased cost of living pressures taking a toll on mental health in the county. Since September, the charity has delivered a total of 1,003 counselling sessions.

The charity has continued supporting families through its provision of play and care services. Its child contact centres, which offer a safe environment where children can spend time with family members with whom they do not usually live, have delivered 1,587 hours of sessions to date.

Gareth Sherwood continued: “We want to continue doing everything we can to support our local community and their differing needs through our range of services. Our mission to create loving, dynamic, and whole communities has become even more fundamental in these times of hardship. We will continue to work collaboratively with other fantastic charities and organisations in our local area to deliver this mission and help overcome these ongoing issues in Dorset.”

YMCA Bournemouth has also helped more than 250 adults gain recognised training qualifications through its dedicated training courses.

In addition, YMCA Bournemouth’s gym and leisure facility, The Junction in Broadstone secured 3,000 new adult memberships and more than 5,000 spaces booked on its Holiday Club programme in 2022. Membership and booking fees from The Junction contribute towards YMCA Bournemouth’s wider operations, allowing the charity to continue supporting its local community with an extensive range of services.

Find out more about YMCA Bournemouth’s work here: https://www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk/