Belfast YMCA

Belfast YMCA Our vision is a city where life is better for children, young people and our communities.

Belfast YMCA is a local charity working with children and young people through programmes and activities.

Statement regarding recent events, June 2026.
10/06/2026

Statement regarding recent events, June 2026.

Want to help us make ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ, ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฏ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฑ or ๐—น๐—ผ๐˜„-๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ camps and activities at the Glade Forest School available to families ...
05/06/2026

Want to help us make ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ, ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฏ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฑ or ๐—น๐—ผ๐˜„-๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ camps and activities at the Glade Forest School available to families like yours?

YOU can make it happen, and it'll probably never be this easy to make this difference again. Just a few button clicks and shared thoughts, ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ป๐—ผ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚.

โžก๏ธ AIB COMMUNITY FUND: AIB are offering ยฃ15,000 to nominated charities. Follow the short instructions at our link and in well under a minute you can nominate Belfast YMCA. ๐—˜๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—š๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ. ๐Ÿ”— belfastymca.org/aib

โžก๏ธ SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES: If you or your family has ever attended the Glade, please share your honest feedback in our short anonymous survey. ๐—˜๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด. ๐Ÿ”— belfastymca.org/glade-survey

Two minutes, just a few clicks, and real impact that can actually benefit your family and hundreds like it across the city.

Thank you!

Helping the next generation of community leaders find their path ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธThis September, we're welcoming another 2 amazing app...
03/06/2026

Helping the next generation of community leaders find their path ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ

This September, we're welcoming another 2 amazing applicants onto our Connected Youth Apprenticeship - a 10 month paid programme to raise up the community leaders Belfast will need tomorrow.

Our apprentices support Belfast YMCA's work across schools, at our Wednesday Youth Club, in peacebuilding programmes, and in after-school and summer projects - touching the lives of 1000 young people in a year.

They'll also serve with CFC South's youth ministry, with space to enrich their own faith through coaching, mentoring and discipleship.

What we're offering:
๐Ÿ”ด Paid hours - 20 hrs/week at ยฃ12.74/hr, September 2026 to June 2027
๐Ÿ”ด Accredited qualifications including Level 2 Youth Work, Safeguarding, and First Aid
๐Ÿ”ด 1-1 coaching, and connections with youth ministry experts across the city
๐Ÿ”ด Hands-on experience in schools, club, community and church settings
๐Ÿ”ด A team genuinely committed to seeing you flourish

Applications are open now to two energetic candidates ready for the adventure - but the window is VERY SHORT!

โฐ Deadline: Monday 29th June, 11:00 am

Info pack and application link at belfastymca.org/connected-youth.

Questions? Email Aoibhรญn at [email protected]

Every kid in Belfast deserves a summer outdoors ๐ŸƒOur new supported access programme for kids ages 5-11, SUMMER EXPLORERS...
02/06/2026

Every kid in Belfast deserves a summer outdoors ๐Ÿƒ

Our new supported access programme for kids ages 5-11, SUMMER EXPLORERS, is running from 1 to 16 July, 10am to 2:30pm.

This is open to families in areas of our city with high levels of deprivation, with little access to green space, facing financial challenges, or dealing with other complex circumstances at home.

Forest School is one of the richest experiences a child can have over a summer. It's also one of the hardest to run affordably. Highly specialised staff, small group ratios, kit, all add up. Thanks to , all ten sessions are subsidised to ยฃ36. Belfast YMCA will also cover full bursaries from our own resources for some families who couldn't participate otherwise.

Go to belfastymca.org/summer-explorers to register. Note, you'll have to complete a questionnaire to confirm eligibility.

And register fast! Bookings close when we reach 16 eligible applicants, and we expect to get there soon!

๐Ÿ POLLINATOR PROTECTORS AT THE GLADE IS FULLY BOOKED! We're thrilled to say tickets were FLYING for our free family acti...
28/05/2026

๐Ÿ POLLINATOR PROTECTORS AT THE GLADE IS FULLY BOOKED!

We're thrilled to say tickets were FLYING for our free family activity at the Glade on Saturday 13th June, organised as part of the Belfast Learning Festival.

Missed out this time? Don't worry, there's plenty more to come at the Glade! Join our mailing list to never miss out on events like this in the future:

๐Ÿ‘‰ belfastymca.org/glade, or click the Glade link in our bio!

This Monday we brought together staff across our teams and sites - from youth work, childcare, leadership and administra...
27/05/2026

This Monday we brought together staff across our teams and sites - from youth work, childcare, leadership and administration - for a chance to connect with each other, our plans, and our mission.
There's so much going on here at Belfast YMCA right now. As we expand our services and look towards a transformation of our site and services, we wanted the whole team to feel part of these plans, rather than just informed about them.
As a non-profit, we think our work depends on treating everyone connected to it as a stakeholder - our staff, the people who use our services, and the wider community. A day like this is an important way of keeping that in mind.
We loved getting to share the day, and we're looking forward to sharing more as our plans take shape!

As we wrap up our E2T cohort 3 with Trinity Belfast we all got together for one final trip to commemorate the groups jou...
20/05/2026

As we wrap up our E2T cohort 3 with Trinity Belfast we all got together for one final trip to commemorate the groups journey this year (and of course a wee certificate) ๐ŸŽ“

From our programme to kick off the year, to our ongoing OCN as part of our pillar as well as our time together in our drop ins and more!!! The group has grown together and had unforgettable experiences.

Canโ€™t wait to see what they get up to next!!

๐Ÿ’ฐ ยฃ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฑ,๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ท๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ต ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฌ๐— ๐—–๐—”!AIB's Community Fund awards grants to the most-nominated charitie...
20/05/2026

๐Ÿ’ฐ ยฃ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฑ,๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ท๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ต ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฌ๐— ๐—–๐—”!

AIB's Community Fund awards grants to the most-nominated charities across Northern Ireland and Great Britain. This year, we'd like your support in making it!

Nominating is free, and takes just 60 seconds of your time. The more nominations we receive, the better our chances of being shortlisted, so every single one counts.

Link in our bio, or go straight to belfastymca.org/aib.

FREE family activities at the Glade! Join us at The Glade Forest School this Saturday 13th June, 10:00โ€“11:45am for a mor...
19/05/2026

FREE family activities at the Glade!

Join us at The Glade Forest School this Saturday 13th June, 10:00โ€“11:45am for a morning of outdoor discovery as part of the 2026 Belfast Learning Festival!

From pollinator safaris and nature crafts to shelter building and woodland walks, our Forest School leaders will guide you through a hands-on exploration of the incredible wildlife on our doorstep.

๐Ÿ” Spot bees, butterflies and seasonal insects
๐ŸŒธ Create nature jewellery or build a bug home
๐Ÿ•๏ธ Work together to build a woodland shelter
๐Ÿ’ฌ Share discoveries in our reflection circle

This event is free and perfect for families with children aged 5โ€“11, but welcoming absolutely everyone. No experience or equipment needed, just wear weather-appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle!

๐Ÿ“ The Glade Forest School, Belfast YMCA, Stranmillis, Belfast BT9 5EH
๐Ÿ‘‰ Places are limited! Book yours through the link in our bio or at belfastymca.org/pollinator-protectors

Hope to see you there!

Address

56-58 Knightsbridge Park
Belfast
BT95EH

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

Telephone

02890684660

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