How can you help?
Everyone can play an active role in helping others and there are lots of ways to get involved. By far the most effective way to make a difference to other peoples' lives, is by becoming a volunteer.  However, you could also donate money or goods, or perhaps learn a skill that will enable you to help someone in need.  Each volunteer is like a vital cog in the machine, enabling us to deliver services to more than 230 people each week (over 10,000 user sessions per year). Whichever activity you choose to get involved in, we'll ensure you have the necessary skills to get the job done.

What you can do
These are some of the activities you could get involved with as a YMCA volunteer:

• Youth Work – town centre based
Providing a place for young people to ‘drop in’ where they can feel safe and comfortable and meet others of a similar age.

• Youth Work – detached and outreach
Engaging with young people in their own environment.  Exploring young people’s relationships within their own community and their lifestyle choices.

• Community Building
Providing information, support and contact opportunities for Migrant Workers, Senior Citizens and young men 18+ living within the Harbour Ward.

• Family
Programmes involving young children and their parents working and playing together as a family unit and exploring their role in the community.  Specific programmes are aimed at young mums and dads, providing independent assistance and advice on a range of subjects.

• Support
Offering support to young adults to help them gain independence and build confidence and self-esteem.  Offering help with decorating and home-making skills.  Providing living, essential and social skills programmes for independent living in partnership with various voluntary and statutory bodies, trusts and businesses.

• Fundraising
The YMCA is a voluntary organisation and a charity registered with the Inland Revenue.  As well as funding from statutory sources and trusts for specific programmes or pieces of work, we are dependent on income from individuals to fulfil our mission across the Borough - there’s no limit to the ways in which you can help us to r t> aise funds.

• Office support
Whether it’s helping us with occasional mailings to our client groups or offering support with everyday duties, our volunteers provide vital support to make sure everything runs smoothly.  Do you have the office or computer skills to help us act effectively?

• Catering or Crèche
We provide regular contact opportunities to various groups, young mums need crèche facilities so that they can participate in training and information sessions, our seniors groups need transport and a cup of tea as well as conversation.  Or can you help us clean up after programme activities?

• Volunteer trainer
Our volunteers provide help and support to hundreds – but every one of them first needs to be fully trained.  Do you have experience of helping others to learn new skills?

• Board members
North Down YMCA is a local, autonomous, voluntary association of Christians from different traditions working together to provide services to those in need across the Borough.  We need people with a range of skills to lead the Association in this work.  Do have financial, public relations, personnel or practitioner skills that would assist us in delivering our mission?

Age limits
There aren’t any! Upper or lower!! If you are interested in any of the programme areas outlined here then lift the phone and contact the office.  Young people can get involved with all our main activities, or help other young people through peer support and education programmes.

What you can gain
Volunteering brings all kinds of opportunities.  It broadens your experience and boosts your confidence.  You will learn new skills and help others to do the same. It is also a chance to be part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Don’t just take our word for it! The following are just some of the benefits volunteers have identified for themselves:

• The satisfaction of helping other people and making a positive contribution
• A chance to meet new people and make lasting friendships
• A sense of personal achievement and motivation
• The opportunity to gain new skills and put existing ones to good use
• Being involved in the Borough’s premier youth service provider

So why not get involved? However much time you can spare North Down YMCA has something for you!


Get in touch
If you are interested in volunteering at North Down YMCA please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it