YMCA Lincolnshire calls on community to give them their vote ahead of prestigious national youth awards ceremony

YMCA Lincolnshire is asking local people to give them their backing ahead of a prestigious national youth awards ceremony hosted this autumn by TV presenter, June Sarpong MBE.

The local youth charity, which has operated across the county for the past 147 years, has been shortlisted as YMCA of the Year in Youth Matters Awards 2016.

Youth Matters is YMCA’s national awards programme that has been an integral part of the charity’s calendar since 2009.

YMCA Lincolnshire is up against four other YMCAs within its award category. Other award categories are Young Achiever of the Year, Young Leader of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year and Young Worker of the Year.

They have been entered for the award because YMCA Lincolnshire, like many YMCAs across the federation, operates in a number of diverse and varied areas, however our core provision has and always will be accommodation and support services for the most vulnerable people within our community.

In 2003, YMCA Lincolnshire merged with The Nomad Trust, a small local charity, to operate Lincolnshire’s only direct access night shelter for rough sleepers, supporting and securing the provision of services.

Earlier this year, we announced plans of a new £3m project to increase this provision, providing additional supported apartments, training, and health and social facilities. Named ‘The Nomad Centre’, it will be based directly opposite YMCA Lincolnshire’s headquarters, offering nearby fitness facilities, as well as further training opportunities.

Fundraising kicked off with Sleep Easy 2016, raising more than £10,000 towards the project, and YMCA Lincolnshire and The Nomad Trust have recently opened a second charity shop, retailing affordable clothing, furniture and household goods, to financially support the mission based work of the centre.

Voting starts online at midnight on Thursday 4 August and runs until midnight on Monday 15 August. Votes cast by the public will be combined with judges’ choices and the top three nominees will be announced in September. All three will attend the finals night at the exclusive venue 8 Northumberland Avenue, in central London, where the winner will be announced.

Malcolm Barham, Chief Executive of YMCA Lincolnshire, said: “We are overjoyed and excited to be nominated for such a significant award and to have reached this stage of the process.

“We hope everyone in the local community will vote for us as making it through to the final judging panel would be incredible.”

Youth Matters celebrates the outstanding skills and achievements of young people from across the country. It also recognises the vital work that YMCAs deliver every day to help transform the lives of young people and give them a brighter future.

The YMCA of the Year Award recognises a YMCA that has delivered in the past 12 months an innovative and inspiring local project, programme or scheme, which has created a tangible and positive impact on young people and the wider community.

Vote for YMCA of the Year at www.ymca.org.uk/awards. Follow Youth Matters on Twitter or receive updates at #YMA16.

For more information on Youth Matters, visit www.ymca.org.uk/awards. For more information on YMCA Lincolnshire, visit www.lincsymca.co.uk.