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YMCA Networks
Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March
Thank you for joining us at the first YMCA Networks of 2026! Thank you also to our colleagues at YMCA Heart of England for hosting us at The Chris Bryant Centre.
If you have not yet done so, please complete our feedback survey.
You can download resources and connect with speakers from each network below:
Early Years Network
Monday 23 March
Chaired by Helen Brown, Chief Operations Officer Early Years, YMCA Black Country Group | 👤Connect with Helen
11:30am | Early Years Sector: Insight and What’s Next
Neil Leitch, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance
1:30pm | Discussion on SEND Reforms
David Bridson, Head of Campaigns and Research and Anna Hallissey, Research Manager, YMCA England & Wales
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with David | 👤Connect with Anna
2:45pm | Developing an Inclusive Early Years Environment
Millie Barnes, Senior Manager – Children and Families, YMCA Cheltenham
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Millie
3:15pm | Tale of Two Cities Early Years – The Impact of Poverty on Community Nurseries
Louise Curd, Director of Lifelong Learning and Angelina Brett, Head of Early Years and Childcare Development, YMCA Derbyshire
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Louise
Fundraising & Communications
Monday 23 March
12:15pm | Talking About Gifts in Wills at YMCA
Rachel Hedley, Senior Legacy Manager, YMCA England & Wales
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Rachel
1:30pm | What We’ve Learned About Social Media at YMCA North Staffordshire
Daniel Boon, Digital Communications and Marketing Officer and John Ford, Marketing Assistant, YMCA North Staffordshire
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 🎞️NewsworthY episode | 👤Connect with Daniel |
2:00pm | CRM Discovery Session Feedback
James Redding, Assistant Head of Fundraising, YMCA England & Wales
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with James
2:45pm | YMCAI
Bethia McNeil, Director of Quality & Impact, YMCA England & Wales
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 📄Answer sheet | 👤Connect with Bethia
Youth Work Network
Monday 23 March
11:30am | Pathways to Practice – Developing a Youth Work Qualification Framework
Simon Frost, NYA Associate, Qualification Framework Development
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Simon
1:30pm | Five Types of Data – An Approach to Evaluation in Youth Work
Bethia McNeil, Director of Quality and Impact and Catherine Mitchell, Quality and Impact Support Lead, YMCA England & Wales
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 📄YIF Learning and Insight Paper Seven |
👤Connect with Bethia | 👤Connect with Catherine
2:45pm | Expanding the Reach of Youth Work at YMCA Heart of England
Emma Milner, Youth Worker, YMCA Heart of England
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Emma
3:00pm | Developing an Ethical Youth Voice and Participation Strategy
Emily York, Operations Manager (Children, Youth and Families), YMCA Robin Hood Group
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Emily
3:15pm | From Idea to Impact: Creating a Safe Space Youth Café in West Bromwich
Jo Goldie, Chief Officer Programmes, YMCA Black Country Group
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Jo
3:30pm | Early Intervention Support: Inside YMCA St Helens’ Early Intervention Youth Hub
Matt Moreton, Director of Development, YMCA St Helens
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Matt
Housing & Youth Employment Networks
Tuesday 24 March
12:00pm | Employability and Employer Engagement at Catch22
Hilda Dotsey, Senior Service Manager for Ignite, Catch22
📄PDF PowerPoint Slides | 🎞️Matthew case study | 👤Connect with Hilda
1:30pm | Influence Our National Research: Youth Employment and Housing Pathways
Anna Hallissey, Research Manager and David Bridson, Head of Campaigns and Research, YMCA England & Wales
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Anna | 👤Connect with David
2:45pm | Outreach in Action: YMCA Burton’s Approach to Supporting People Sleeping Rough
Debra Crooks, Housing Manager and Brian Freeman, Project Lead Officer, YMCA Burton
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Debra | 👤Connect with Brian
3:00pm | Project Flourish: Creating Pathways from Housing to Employment
Juliet Martin (absent), Resident Engagement & Community Manager, YMCA Leicestershire and Michelle Blackburn, Network & Programme Manager & Project Flourish Lead, EveryYouth
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Juliet | 👤Connect with Michelle
3:15pm | YES Programme – Building Pathways into Work
Sonia Barlow, Team Leader Training and Employment Coach, YMCA North Staffordshire
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Sonia
3:30pm | Creating Pathways to Employment Through In-House Roles
Hannah Torrance, Theatre & Arts Manager, The Y Theatre, YMCA Leicestershire
📄PDF PowerPoint slides | 👤Connect with Hannah
