Peace and Justice YMCA
YMCA
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ABSEILING FOR THE YMCA
Harriet Jones, Gill Horn and Rachel Guy from the Mint did the SANTA ABSEIL at Princesshay Car Park on the afternoon of 3rd December to raise money for EXETER YMCA.
Between them they raised £662
Thanks to all who supported them.
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If you weren’t in Princesshay to witness our graceful descent down the car park wall, you missed breath-taking stunts that thrilled the observing crowd. Earlier in the day Rachel Guy successfully made it down in one piece (well done!). Before any of us even reached the roof of the car park we dazzled onlookerswith our flattering and glamorous Santa outfits. Myself and Gill decided to abseil at the same time (for maximum entertainment), we both confidently strolled up to the edge of the wall of the 70 foot building to begin our abseil display. A minute later, I saw Gill swing and hit the wall out of the corner of my eye. We heard the crowd gasp from below, and so as not to disappoint, I also slipped and ended up sat on the vertical wall looking up at the sky. A second intake of breath was heard from the crowd followed by a tense silence. We then both corrected ourselves, prompting a unanimous round of applause, and elegantly continued our descent until our feet touched the ground and we returned to a much safer upright position. We await our next challenge! Harriet Jones |
Photos of Harriet:
Harriet and Gill:
and Rachel:
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE INTREPID THREE!
In partnership with Exeter City Football Club
It’s time to think about sleeping rough so others don’t have to!!
Last year, the Exeter YMCA SleepEasy event raised over £10,000 to support our work with young homeless people in Exeter. That was an amazing result, so thanks so much to all who took part.
Because of the generous support of the community (and a lot of hard work by our wonderful staff team), our supported housing has not only survived a 25% cut in statutory funding last year, but has even managed to grow. We still provide support to all 31 young people in our hostel and 8 more in our move on flats, even though we are only funded to support about 26 young people. Not only that, our first residents are about to move into a new 4-bedroom house we have bought to provide more housing for young people who are ready to live more independently. THANK YOU for your part in making this possible.
This year, our SleepEasy sponsored sleepout is taking place on the night of Saturday 3rd March, and will be on the stands at Exeter City Football Club (a big “thanks” to the Club for generously allowing us to do this). Not only do you get to sleep under the stars to raise money to help homeless young people, but we guarantee a lot of fun as well as inspiration from hearing fantastic first-hand stories from young people whose lives have been turned around by the work of our housing team. We promise you a night you will remember for a long, long time!
For more information, check out www.sleepeasyexeter.org.uk, where you can even register on-line this year. Easy-peasy!!
For more info, speak to Sophie on 01392 410530, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or text “sleep” to 07535 463178 and she will call you back.
Sleep well!!
Sophie Hodge
Community Relations Manager
YMCA PRISON PROJECT
Sophie Hodge of Exeter YMCA, spoke about the YMCA Prison Project as part of our Sunday morning service for Prisons Sunday (20 Nov).
“If it were not for the help and encouragement of the “Perspectives” team I dread to think how out of control my life would be now. Thank you to everyone who has helped me to change and improve my life”
Building on over a decade of working with prisoners in HMP Exeter, “Perspectives – Doing Life Differently” is a three module course created and run by Exeter YMCA in Exeter, Dartmoor and Channings Wood Prisons.
“Perspectives” is based on a core Exeter YMCA belief – that people can and do change when given the opportunity, even those who have committed the worst kinds of crimes. Using a highly interactive style of learning, students look at the kinds of attitudes and thinking that lie behind their past criminal behaviour, and are given the tools they need to live life differently when they are released. Approximately 90% of prisoners who start “Perspectives” successfully complete the course and obtain a NOCN accredited certificate, often the first academic achievement in their lives.
Time after time prisoners feed back how their old ways of thinking and behaving have been profoundly challenged, and how they now believe that life really can be different. Perhaps more than anything else, “Perspectives” given people hope. Hope for change. Hope for a future. Hope for a new life.
(from the Exeter YMCA Website)