YMCA North Staffordshire

We’re delighted to announce that YMCA North Staffordshire has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer. Peter Dartford said, "On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are delighted to share that Nicky Twemlow will formally take up the role on 1 April 2026, leading the organisation into its next phase of growth, innovation, and meaningful community impact". This marks an exciting new chapter for YMCA North Staffordshire as we continue strengthening our support for young people and communities across the region. You can read more here: ymcans.org.uk/news/

Creativity isn’t just a hobby - it’s a tool for mental health In this episode of the Young Leaders Podcast we sat down with award-winning writer Emma Fitzsimmons to talk about creative outlets, confidence, and why you don’t need to be “aspiring” to be creative It was brilliant chatting to someone with so much passion for what they do and it's inspiring to hear how that passion helps to support young people! Huge thanks to The Community Cast and everyone who helped bring this episode together youtu.be/RTZD9omoHRs #YMCA | @community_cast

Danny has done a remarkable job transforming YMCA North Staffordshire into a true beacon of hope for people across the city🙌. Through his leadership and dedication, YMCA has become more than just a service — it’s a place people can genuinely call home. That sense of belonging, safety and support is a direct reflection of the hard work and vision Danny has put in✨.

Paid Youth Ambassador Opportunity – Extra Date Just Added! 🚀 The response to our last event was incredible — 50 tickets gone in just 2 days! It’s clear that young people are ready to shape the future of Stoke-on-Trent. So, we’re opening up another date with just 25 spaces available ✨ If you’re aged 14–24 and want to make a real impact in your city, this is your opportunity to step up as a Paid Youth Ambassador and help turn ideas into action 🙌 Spaces are limited (8 spaces left!), so don’t miss out 👇 eventbrite.com/e/1984119723504

The sun was on our side today as we began transforming our green spaces as part of our Wildflower Meadow project 🌿 Working alongside our partners at Nurture, volunteers from NatWest and Vestey Holdings, and our brilliant residents, we got to work and cleared the space that will soon bloom into a beautiful wildflower meadow 🌼 Thank you to everyone for all your help - we couldn't have done it without you! #YMCA | @NatWestGroup

Today we came together to mark the retirement of John and Said, and to honour Danny as he steps down as CEO after 23 incredible years The canteen was full, not just with people, but with memories. Old friends, familiar faces, and colleagues from across the years joined us, which says everything about the kind of impact Danny has had. The stories shared, the laughter, and the appreciation in the room helped make it a truly special day We were also incredibly grateful to receive signed shirts from Stoke City FC - a thoughtful gesture that added something extra to an already meaningful occasion ⚽ Just one of the special moments of the day was presenting Danny with the very first Daniel Flynn Award - a recognition that reflects everything he stands for. An award that celebrates someone who is always ready to support others with kindness, who stand by their values, and inspires those around them A huge thank you to Twoco for the beautiful food and for helping create such a warm atmosphere We wish everyone the very best for the next chapter - decades of leadership, dedication, and care leaves a legacy that can’t be measured #YMCA

After the last 50 tickets sold out in just 2 days, we’ve added a new date with 25 more spaces. If you’re 14–24 and want to help shape the future of Stoke-on-Trent, become a Paid Youth Ambassador. 📅 11 April, 10am 📍 YMCA ST1 3AE Spaces are limited — sign up now. 🌟 eventbrite.com/e/1984119723504

Here’s to the mums who lift us up, cheer us on, and make every day brighter💛 This Mother’s Day, we celebrate you! #YMCA

Have you read our latest Personally Speaking news piece? 👀 The reality for many young people today is tough. Rising living costs mean everyday essentials like food and transport are becoming harder to afford. On top of that, opportunities such as learning to drive or accessing training can feel financially out of reach for many. In our latest Personally Speaking article, the Youth Governance team explore the real challenges young people are facing and why support from organisations like YMCA is more important than ever. 🔗 Read the full article here: ymcans.org.uk/investing-in-y…

And we’re back! 🎙️ Production on the Young Leaders Podcast is underway - and it’s better than ever! Recorded in our own studio in the Youth Hub, join us as we explore issues affecting young people today, including mental health, future aspirations, and how Stoke-on-Trent can help make their dreams a reality A massive thanks to Adam from The Community Cast for all the support Keep an eye out for updates - episode one of Series Three is coming soon! 🎧 #YMCA | @community_cast

We want to say a massive thank you to the Rapid Relief Team for their kind donation to Your Local Pantry! They gifted us ten food packages, each with enough food to support a family of four for four days! That's not all as they also donated two emergency child kits We are aboslutely blown away by the generosity shown by our community 💙 #YMCA | @RRT_UK

Over the past 10 weeks, we’ve been proud to host a fantastic series of Women’s Wellbeing Workshops in partnership with The Fitness Collab. Together we explored confidence, resilience, and both mental and physical wellbeing in a supportive and empowering space. It’s been incredible to see participants grow in confidence, build connections, and take positive steps for their health and wellbeing. A huge thank you to The Fitness Collab for delivering such inspiring sessions, and to the Community Foundation for supporting this programme and helping make opportunities like this possible. We’re so proud of everyone who took part! #YMCA | @CFStaffordshire

WOW! 🤯 Our Youth Ambassador event is now SOLD OUT! 🎉 All tickets have been snapped up, and we’re incredibly excited to see so many young leaders from across Stoke-on-Trent stepping forward to help shape the future of our city. Your enthusiasm and passion to make a difference has been amazing to see. Due to the incredible response, we are now looking at adding an additional date in April so even more young people can get involved. 👀 Keep an eye on our socials for updates — you won’t want to miss the next opportunity!

Unify 2026 – Beyond Barriers: Bold Steps with Christ ✝️ We’ve had a powerful start to the Unify Conference 2026, where YMCAs from across Europe have gathered to share and reflect on the Christian mission at the heart of our movement, as set out in the Paris Basis (1855). The conference theme, “Beyond Barriers: Bold Steps with Christ,” has already inspired some incredible moments. The opening worship session was led by Emma Osmunden from YMCA Europe, who shared an encouraging message about the importance of keeping our Christian faith at the very centre of everything we do as a movement. We also heard a powerful talk from Tim Roberts, who spoke about the barriers we face in the chaos of everyday life and in the world around us — and how Jesus Christ bridges that gap, bringing hope and direction. Throughout the day, Steve Bavington from YMCA Black Country Group, alongside other leaders across the YMCA movement, delivered a series of inspiring workshops designed to challenge, equip, and encourage us. #YMCA | @ymcaeurope | @oneymca | @YMCA_BC

Become a Paid Youth Ambassador for Stoke-on-Trent 🌟 Are you 14–24 and passionate about making a real difference where you live? We’re looking for 20 young people to become paid Youth Ambassadors and help shape the future of Stoke-on-Trent. This is your chance to turn young people’s ideas into real action from improving mental health support to creating cleaner, safer public spaces. If you care about your city and want to be part of positive change, we’d love to see you there at the YMCA ST1 3AE on the 28th March 10-12 or 1-3. 👉 Spaces are limited sign up and be part of something that matters. eventbrite.com/e/youth-ambass…

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at YMCA. 🫶 Join us in celebrating the achievements of women in our local communities. #YMCA #IWD2026

A Delicious Day at YMCA North Staffordshire! Today we had the pleasure of welcoming Keele University who hosted a FREE Community Meal for members of our community from across the city. 💙 On the menu was a delicious curry – and it definitely didn’t disappoint! It was fantastic to see people coming together, sharing food, conversation, and a real sense of community. A huge thank you to the amazing team from Keele University for giving up their time to cook and serve such a wonderful meal. Initiatives like this show the power of partnership and how small acts of kindness can bring people together. #YMCA | @KeeleUniversity

Huge thanks to our incredible Catering Team for everything they do across campus From preparing delicious meals day in, day out, to putting together amazing buffets for events, your hard work, care and attention to detail never goes unnoticed. You help bring people together and keep everyone fuelled and we’re so grateful for all that you do! #YMCA

🌟 Become a Paid Youth Ambassador for Stoke-on-Trent We’re recruiting 20 young people aged 14–24 to step into the role of Youth Ambassadors and represent the voices of young people across Stoke-on-Trent - Hurry spaces are filling up quickly!📢 This is your chance to turn young people’s ideas into real change — from boosting mental health support to helping create cleaner, safer public spaces across the city. If you care about where you live and want to make a positive impact, come along and get involved! Book your space by clicking the link➡️:eventbrite.com/e/youth-ambass…

Budapest, here we come!✈️🌍 It was an early start this morning for the YMCA team as we set off for Budapest to attend the Unify Conference 2026. We’re excited to be joining youth workers, leaders from across Europe to share ideas, learn from one another and bring back new inspiration to support young people in our communities. Keep an eye on our socials over the next few days — we’ll be sharing highlights from the conference along the way!🙌 #YMCA | @ymcaeurope

Become a Paid Youth Ambassador for Stoke-on-Trent 🌟 Are you 14–24 and passionate about making a real difference where you live? We’re looking for 20 young people to become paid Youth Ambassadors and help shape the future of Stoke-on-Trent. This is your chance to turn young people’s ideas into real action from improving mental health support to creating cleaner, safer public spaces. If you care about your city and want to be part of positive change, we’d love to see you there at the YMCA ST1 3AE on the 28th March 10-12 or 1-3. 👉 Spaces are limited sign up and be part of something that matters. eventbrite.com/e/youth-ambass…