Introduction
The YMCA Humber strategic plan 2019-2021 has been produced to reflect the transformational journey that the organisation is on.
During this 3-year period it is essential that we move out of our current Peaks Lane hostel and develop a broader range of accommodation which addresses local need and provides a journey of supported accommodation from leaving care to independent living.
We currently deliver excellent mental health support for young people (18-35) through our At One project but the need for this type of service is great and we need to mainstream this service, making it a core service at the YMCA, rather than a project. We also need to further develop this service to meet the needs of younger people (16-18).
Unlocking potential of young people is at the heart of what we do. We need to grow our youth work provision and our potential to offer support to families.
The key to developing our enhanced, new vision is our team. We will therefore develop and deliver a new ‘People Strategy’, showing how we will better support, train and develop our staff to deliver excellent services. This level of support will also be extended to a newly developed network of volunteers.
Furthermore, in order to grow all of our services we will need to develop a new Income Generation Strategy. This Strategy will demonstrate how we grow our income through fundraising, corporate support and grants.
YMCA Humber wants to re-gain its place at the heart of North-East Lincolnshire, and further develop its services across the Humber Region. Our work will effectively contribute towards creating a place where people can flourish, where young people belong, contribute and thrive. Our marketing and communication services will be further developed to ensure that our purpose and the value of our work is better understood.
Background and Context
YMCA Humber is a youth and community charity, currently supporting young people and communities in and around North-East Lincolnshire, with plans to develop our services across the whole of the Humber Region.
YMCA Humber is a registered housing provider, providing supported accommodation for over 400 people each year.
Our Purpose
We believe everyone has potential to unlock.
Our Values
The way we act at YMCA Humber is characterised by five strong and distinctive values that flow from our Christian ethos.
- We seek out
We actively look out for opportunities to make a transformative impact on young lives in the communities where we work, and believe every person is of equal value.
- We welcome
We offer people the space they need to feel secure, respected, heard and valued; and we always protect, trust, hope and preserve.
- We Inspire
We strive to inspire each person we meet to nurture their body, mind and spirit, and to realise their full potential in all they do.
- We speak out
We stand up for young people, speak out on issues that affect their lives, and help them to find confidence in their own voice.
- We serve others
We are committed to the wellbeing of the communities we serve and believe in the positive benefit of participation, locally and in the wider world.
Vision and Mission
Accommodation
We provide a home, primarily for vulnerable young people in supported accommodation across the Humber. We improve lives in a safe, secure environment.
Training and Education
Every person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential through the development of skills. In a safe, supportive environment, our staff will be highly skilled and passionate about supporting people with the ultimate goal of self–development, connecting them with learning, employment or social enterprise opportunities.
Health and Well-being
Everyone we support should enjoy the benefits of good health and well-being. We support people to improve their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. We will create an environment that allows people to talk about their mental health in the knowledge that they will receive the right support, allowing them to take positive steps to improve their health and well-being. We will actively seek to further develop the sports facilities and services we offer.
Family/Community Work
Young people and families should have the support they need to develop and lead more fulfilling lives. We will create spaces and opportunities for young people to develop trusting relationships and the tools to enable them to make informed choices. We will create spaces and develop opportunities and activities to engage with the communities we serve.
Support and Advice
Everyone who connects with us through our services will have someone they can trust. Our staff will be committed to supporting their individual needs, helping them achieve their potential and goals. We will support and guide those we work with to develop the tools they need to improve their lives.
Accommodation – Vision Statement
Our aim is to provide high quality accommodation and support services, designed around the needs of our residents.
Our buildings will be engaging spaces where we create a positive environment for our residents and visitors. They will be inclusive places where people feel ‘at home’, safe, and are actively engaged in the caring support provided by our coaches.
We will know we are successful when:
- All our accommodation is of a high standard of repair, cleanliness and comfort.
- We are an accommodation provider of choice for both local commissioners and the communities that need our services.
- We have a range of accommodation types to meet the housing and support needs of residents wherever they are on their housing and support pathway.
- We have expanded our property portfolio to address unmet housing need in the Humber region.
- We successfully manage our accommodation to reduce re-let times, with an effective repairs service and by efficiently managing the lettings process.
- Our services meet the particular needs of young people, safeguarding their physical and emotional wellbeing.
- We improve the quality of life of our residents: providing personalised support to enable them to reach their goals, participate in their community and unlock potential.
- Residents move on from our service with the life skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to maintain independent living.
- We work in partnership with all external agencies to ensure our residents receive the services they need, progress towards their goals and avoid social exclusion.
Health and Well-being – Vision Statement
We will provide a holistic approach in the promotion and practical support for people to improve their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. We will actively encourage low level mental health interventions to become integrated into our overall provision.
We will know we are successful when:
- We are delivering quality early intervention mental health support to all those we receive a referral for.
- We and our partners are clearly working together in supporting people to live healthier lives.
- Local churches are actively engaged with the work of the YMCA Humber.
- We understand the gaps in sports provision for young people in our area and we work with partners to attract the funding to address those identified gaps.
Family and Community Work – Vision Statement
Our youth work will continue, so long as funding can be secured. We will develop our Community Support once we assume responsibility for the St Hugh’s Community Centre and have brand new facilities at Freeman Street, Grimsby.
We will know we are successful when:
- We are an ‘enabling partner’ supporting the local voluntary sector to meet the needs for youth activity in our area.
- We have sustainable projects that provide consistent support.
- We have developed our own workforce to better-support our youth work provision. We have created more opportunities for our workforce and others to volunteer.
- Our projects will be places that promote inclusion so that our activities are attended by a diverse range of young people and young people supported by YMCA Humber feel more included in both their home and school communities.
- We are seen as the provider of ‘community’ services.
Support and Advice – Vision Statement
All our services will provide people with relevant and impartial information and advice. We will ensure that we maintain effective partnership relationships with other service providers so we can refer people to specialist services where we are not best placed to help. We will promote freedom of choice so that people make informed decisions about what support is best for them.
We will know we are successful when:
- We can articulate our support offer, and everyone is clear about the way we work.
- We can evidence person-centred planning throughout our services.
- We can evidence that our support is making a positive impact.
- We are seen as a key partner within local provider networks.
- Young people express confidence in the support they receive from YMCA Humber.
Our Staff and Our Volunteers
We will continually work as a team to ensure we are the best in everything we do. We will always focus on others to ensure we have a respectful and fun working environment. We will take individual accountability for delivering results and will ask for help when needed. We will work flexibility and embrace change, whilst always looking after the well-being of ourselves and our colleagues. We will be accountable for our decisions and support each other through difficult times. We will always strive to improve ourselves by asking for feedback and embracing learning opportunities.
We will know we are successful when:
- We are a living wage employer for ALL our staff and have fairness in our terms and conditions of employment.
- We have a simple job grading system that is transparent to everyone and supports recruiting great people.
- Our leaders with no more than 8 direct reports and provide excellent coaching and support to their team members.
- We provide development and progression opportunities for all our staff and volunteers.
- Nobody is expected to work excessive hours and we ensure we support our own and our colleague well-being.
- Our staff are recognised as outstanding in their field and support the local community in developing their understanding of our residents and service users unique qualities and needs.
Future Plans and Developments
Accommodation 3 year plan
2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Training and Education 3 year plan
2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Health and Well-being 3 year plan
(Mind, Body & Spirit)
2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Family & Community Work 3 year plan
2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Our Staff & Volunteers 3 year plan
2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Income Generation Strategy 3 year plan
***Covid 19 considerations need to continue regarding any events concerning social distancing and how to interact safely by responding appropriately to any recommendations and changes.
2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Our Back Office Services
Key to the successful delivery of this Strategy is our people. We will ensure that all staff have an understanding of this Strategic Plan and what their role is in its delivery. We will aspire to every member of our team owning this Plan and the outcomes we need to achieve.
Having efficient and effective support services will be essential to realise the successful delivery of this Strategic Plan. These services will need to flex and adapt to the changing nature of the work of YMCA Humber.
Essential to the delivery of this Plan will be our effectiveness in securing external funding to deliver our services and to diversify and develop our income streams. We will need to strengthen our ability to secure external grants from a broader range of funders.
Understanding the impact we have will furthermore be essential to us improving our offer and our services to reflect the needs of our customers. Therefore, during the life of this Strategic Plan we will take the time to develop measures to allow us to better understand the impact we have and demonstrate this to our funders and our supporters accordingly.
During the period of this Strategic Plan we will: –
- Review and update our website.
- Review and update all of our communications, both internally and externally with a view to improving our reputation.
- Constantly seek to develop and continue better relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Keep under review and take action where necessary to ensure compliance with General Date Protection Regulations.
- Review our Governance arrangements.
- Keep under constant review the adaptations and changes the organisation needs to make given the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic
