Volunteering
Volunteering is at the heart of the work of YMCA North Down, and takes many different forms. Whatever your age, volunteering is a great way to make a difference to people’s lives. It’s also an opportunity for you, as a volunteer, to develop a range of important skills. What you choose to do depends on your own interests and how much time you have to spare.
Our staff will provide ongoing support and training so that you can contribute to our centre-based work and/or out-of-centre activities with young people, adults or families. You can get involved in residentials and outdoor activities, or even in cultural exchanges with other countries. You will make new friends, get involved in teamwork, develop your interpersonal and communication skills, and enhance your C.V..
Our goal is to be a transforming influence on the lives of young people, families and the community. Making a difference to other people’s lives usually means you benefit as much as those you support. Volunteering gives you the satisfaction of knowing you have worked to enable people in your community to lead more positive and productive lives.
If you believe in our mission of supporting young people, families and communities to flourish in mind, body and spirit, and in our ethos of care and compassion for those who are disadvantaged or at risk, then contact us to discuss the opportunities to get involved as a volunteer part in the exciting work of YMCA North Down.
Volunteering Enquiry
For more information or to enquire about volunteering, please contact Anna Johnston, Volunteering Coordinator, on 07591 840723, or via our contact us page.
Volunteering in the YMCA Youth Centre has helped me develop as a person and given me the opportunity to build lifelong friendships along the way. It has also given me the experience I have needed to work with young people, which helped my decision to follow my career choice as a primary school teacher.
I love giving something back to my community through volunteering. It’s been good to give back to the YMCA because the organisation has done so much for me.
As a member of the Board of Directors, I enjoy the opportunity to keep active mentally and maintain my interest in the youth work sector. I have been able to use my experience from the Civil Service to try to help the groups with which I am involved, as well as meet new people and make new friends.
Donate
HOW YOU CAN GIVE TO THE WORK OF YMCA NORTH DOWN
Alongside funding from government & trusts and income from our social businesses, YMCA North Down relies on gifts & donations to fund our work & respond even more effectively to emerging needs. Your donations are invaluable in helping us to support young, families & communities across North Down & Ards.
ONE-OFF DONATIONS
You can support our work by making an online donation via PayPal, or sending a cheque via post to our address: YMCA North Down, 10-12 High Street, Bangor, BT20 5AY.
If you Gift Aid your donations we can claim back from the government 25p for every £1 you donate. This additional income makes a big difference, so please don’t forget to Gift Aid donations if you are a UK tax payer. To gift aid your donation, please download our Gift Aid Declaration Form.
REGULAR DONATIONS
If you’d like to give regularly, e.g. monthly, to the work of YMCA North Down, please download our Standing Order Mandate form. You can post it to our address: YMCA North Down, 10-12 High Street, Bangor, BT20 5AY.
Remember, if you’re a UK tax payer, you can gift aid your regular donation, which allows us to claim back 25p for every £1 you donate. To gift aid your donation, please download our Gift Aid Declaration Form.
Partner
HOW YOUR BUSINESS, SCHOOL OR CHURCH CAN PARTNER WITH YMCA NORTH DOWN
Whether you are a parent, teacher or social worker, work for another voluntary organisation, represent a local church or business we would love to work with you to improve the lives of young people, families and communities.
BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
Partnering with YMCA North Down will align your business with a recognised and forward-thinking local charity. Your company can partner with in a number of ways, for example, by choosing YMCA North Down as your Charity of the Year, setting up Payroll Giving for your staff, or making a Charitable Donation.
By partnering with YMCA North Down, we will help you to meet your corporate social responsibility targets as well as raise your company profile and create a more positive brand image at the same time. You can even receive tax relief on any charitable donations you make to us!
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
Our YMCA works in and with local schools to support vulnerable children and young people. We are available to support local schools in response to their pupils’ needs. This can be through delivering aspects of the curriculum in the classroom, offering one-to-one mentoring support to young people at risk, or providing out-of-school activities in our wider youth provision.
CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS
Our YMCA works closely with a range of local churches to support their work in serving vulnerable children, young people and families in their local community. This may involve delivering youth programmes, training volunteers or working alongside local churches to help them reach out to those in need. We are always keen to partner with new churches in different areas across North Down and Ards.