Tag: YMCA Edinburgh

Young Edinburgh changemakers celebrated for driving positive community impact

YMCA Edinburgh recognised at global summit for creating leadership opportunities for young people driving community change

Eleven-year-olds Edie Chaw and Tarek Hydara Estribio are being celebrated by YMCA Edinburgh after showcasing that you don’t have to be an adult to drive real change. Both are residents of Cables Wynd House in Leith and active members of youth-led advocacy groups supported by the charity, and they are leading the charge in helping develop their neighbourhood for the better.

Edie and Tarek are active participants in several of YMCA Edinburgh’s initiatives, including The Cables Wynd House Youth Residents Forum, a youth-led advocacy group where they held consultations with their peers and collaborated with adult residents and Making Rights Real to present a comprehensive housing report to the City of Edinburgh Council. As part of the initiative they were also consulted on public space improvements.

Edie and Tarek are also involved in The Next Generation Youth Forum, a programme focused on empowering the next generation of changemakers. They also work on local green space projects, sustainable food and composting workshops, and creative community awareness programs like climate-themed banner workshops as part of their involvement in the Climate Change Group.

The success of these youth-led initiatives by YMCA Edinburgh was recently recognised on the global stage.

At the 2026 YMCA World Council in Toronto, Mike Kerracher, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Edinburgh, represented the organisation alongside international leaders and Felipe Paullier, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs.

Speaking on a panel, the event had 1,400 representatives from over 120 countries, Kerracher showcased how organisations can move beyond merely consulting young people to actively creating genuine opportunities for them to lead.

Now, YMCA Edinburgh is launching a renewed call to create these leadership opportunities locally and nationally, emphasising that youth are ready to drive real community change if given the chance.

Mike Kerracher, CEO of YMCA Edinburgh, said: “Edie and Tarek are fantastic examples of what happens when young people are empowered to take the lead.

“True community change happens when we stop making decisions for young people and start making decisions with them, when we give them a genuine seat at the table and invest in their ideas, they shine.”

Edie Chaw, 11, said: “Sometimes people think only grown-ups know how to fix things, but kids see the neighbourhood differently.

“When you don’t only ask adults, but also ask what kids want, and when everyone actually listens to each other we can come together and combine our ideas to create something everyone wants.”

Tarek Hydara Estribio, 11, added: “Being part of these projects helps me learn how to communicate, work as a team, and socialise with lots of different people.

“It’s given us a real chance to speak up because we just want to be heard, and it feels great to know we’re actually helping to make things better.”

This international recognition follows a highly successful year for YMCA Edinburgh, which supported over 250 individuals across its services. Mentorship remains a cornerstone of the organisation’s success.

Over the last year, 39 dedicated volunteer mentors provided vital one-to-one support to 59 young people. As a result, 98% of participants reported improved access to opportunities and 94% experienced enhanced wellbeing.

Alongside these programmes, the organisation successfully delivered seven weeks of free holiday activities, expanding sports, outdoor learning, and wellbeing support for local families.

YMCA Edinburgh is committed to creating even more opportunities for young people to lead, influence decisions, and shape the future of their communities.

Young people who want to make a difference are encouraged to get in touch to find out more about the Next Generation Youth Forum and other participation opportunities. The organisation is also keen to hear from adults interested in volunteering as mentors, collaborating with young people around meaningful climate action in the local community, or supporting its wider work. 

Whether through mentoring, partnership, fundraising, or simply encouraging a young person to get involved, everyone has a role to play in empowering the next generation. To find out more, email admin@ymcaedinburgh.com. 

Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry: Let’s Be Heard sessions in Leith

YMCA Edinburgh, in partnership with Bethany Christian Trust and Harbour, are organising two opportunities to share your experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic is part of the Lets Be Heard programme.

We are trying to reach as many people in Leith as possible so the voices and stories of Leiths pandemic experiences are heard.

Our sessions will be on the 24th of October at 1 p.m and 6p.m at the Harbour offices.

The events are open to anyone over 16 who live, work or volunteer in Leith and were here during lockdown.

To register to take part, email louisa@ymcaedinburgh.com or call 0793 541 9067.

Edinburgh charities secure Outdoor Community Play funding

Around 14,000 children living in deprived areas will have access to more outdoor play opportunities in their local communities, thanks to over half a million in funding from the Scottish Government.

More than 30 charities providing local outdoor play initiatives for children will receive a share of £550,000 to expand their projects.

Edinburgh charities receiving a share of the fund in 2023-24 are:

  • Bridgend Farmhouse – £15,540.00
  • Canongate Youth – £9,452.10
  • North Edinburgh Arts – £14,504.70
  • Smart Play Network – £14,374.50
  • YMCA Edinburgh SCIO – £13,778.10
  • Scotland Yard Adventure Centre – £5,783.21 (below)
  • The Venchie Children and Young People’s Project – £15,424.50

The Outdoor Community Play Fund will support children and families through the year, including during the school holidays.

Children’s Minister Natalie Don announced the funding during a visit to Renfrew YMCA – one of the 32 charities to receive funding.

Ms Don said: “Outdoor play has an incredibly positive impact on our children’s mental health, wellbeing and confidence. It can teach them how to solve problems, assess risks, boost their physical activity and provide opportunities to meet and interact with others.

“However, options for children to play safely outdoors can be limited, especially for children in deprived areas. At a time when families are struggling with the cost of living crisis, it is even more essential that we provide this vital support to ensure there are outdoor play options available, free of charge, for families across Scotland.

“I am looking forward to seeing how this fund will help grow outdoor community play projects and I am proud that this Scottish Government investment will benefit thousands of children living in our most deprived communities.”

Inspiring Scotland Director of Funds Julia Abel said: “All children have the right to play – not only is it vital for their mental health and wellbeing, but is also supports children to learn social and emotional skills while boosting their physical activity.

“We want to make outdoor play accessible for all children in Scotland. Last year, the programme expanded to include more sessions for children and families with additional support needs.

“The beauty of outdoor community play is that it’s child-led, enabling children to use their creativity and imagination to develop their own ways to have fun, overcome barriers, while teaching life-enhancing skills that will make positive effects all the way into adulthood.”

little dobbies’ Stockbridge store announces local Helping Your Community Grow winner

YMCA Edinburgh encourages votes to be national winner

little dobbies’ Stockbridge store has announced its local Helping Your Community Grow winner, seeing YMCA Edinburgh receive gardening resources to enhance their garden space.

YMCA Edinburgh empower young people, children and their families through mentoring, youth activities, sports and family support. The charity is needs led and delivers activities and supports to help ensure families, irrespective of challenges faced, have the scaffolding in place for children to grow up loved, safe and respected.

YMCA Edinburgh now invites local residents to cast their vote to help the charity be crowned the national winner and receive additional funding and support.

This will include advice, gardening products and plants. Dobbies’ own-brand peat-free multipurpose compost, recycled and recyclable containers, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate.

Mike Kerracher, YMCA Edinburgh Association Manager said: “We are hugely grateful for the support from little dobbies Stockbridge. Resources will be used for gardening activities in our outdoor learning sessions with kids and in our Women’s Wellbeing sessions.

“We are well aware of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and this donation will help community members, including those who have experienced trauma and/or do not have access to a garden, feel the benefits of gardening.”

Deirdre Rutherford, General Manager at little dobbies Stockbridge said: “We are delighted to be supporting YMCA Edinburgh and are looking forward to helping them with their gardening activities by donating gardening equipment, plants and compost.”

To cast your vote for YMCA Edinburgh visit Helping Your Community Grow | Dobbies Garden Centres

Votes are open until Tuesday 25 April. There is only one vote per person. The project with the most votes across the UK will be the national winner. 

Ten vulnerable young people to benefit from 1:1 mentoring

YMCA Edinburgh has secured a £10,000 donation from Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation to expand the charity’s one-to-one mentoring services for vulnerable young people aged between 8 to 14 years who do not meet the criteria of ongoing mentoring programmes. Continue reading Ten vulnerable young people to benefit from 1:1 mentoring