Where There’s A Will There’s A Way

Will Russell
(now the new Client Volunteer Coordinator)

I moved into the YMCA early in September 2009 as a direct result of unforeseen circumstances within my family. After the initial nervousness and indecisiveness had subsided, I immediately began to set about looking to make the best of a bad situation and in doing so, get myself back upon my feet.

Prior to being made unemployed, I had worked as a chef in a variety of hotels and Michelin Star restaurants for roughly six years. I channelled all of my efforts into using my work experience and qualifications to gain employment within catering and hospitality.

Coming to the YMCA enabled me to take stock of my situation and gave me a period of time to take a long look at myself and think very hard about my next step. Difficult circumstances, be they family issues, bad debt or homelessness, do not necessarily mean the end of the world.

The YMCA gives people the opportunity and the chance to bounce back and rise above the rest and make a new life for them selves, wherever possible.

Living at the YMCA enabled me to look at the role of a support worker first hand and allowed me to appreciate just how rewarding it can be as a career, whilst at the same time being beneficial to both support worker and client-alike.

An opportunity arose at the YMCA to become the Client Volunteer Coordination, a position that sees an ex-client employed to encourage other clients into volunteering roles, which could lead to paid employment.

I was encouraged to apply for the role and thankfully I was successful. It is fantastic to think that I am now giving back to the YMCA after they have given me so much support and the opportunity to move into paid employment.

It is very rewarding for me to help clients move into voluntary roles and I hope to be able to help them find the same opportunities that were afforded to me.

Jason’s Cooking

Jason Hughes

I was originally from Sheffield but moved to the area to take up a post as Holding Manager for a pub in Immingham.  Unfortunately, the job became redundant and as I had been living in accommodation at the pub I found myself jobless and homeless.

I moved into the YMCA as I needed a place to stay and without a job it was extremely difficult to get accommodation and needless to say it was nigh on impossible to get a job without accommodation – a real Catch 22 situation.

During my time living at the YMCA I willingly undertook a great deal of voluntary work using my skills in the catering trade to work within the Kitchen Department, eventually even covering shifts for sickness/holidays etc .  This really helped my self esteem when I was at a very low ebb and having found myself jobless for the first time since I left school!

The support of my Coach in securing me accommodation really helped and I am now happily settled in my own place in Grimsby.

After I moved out of the YMCA it became possible for me to become a paid member of the Kitchen staff and I have now been recruited to Relief Cook/Kitchen Assistant in lieu of a permanent vacancy becoming available.

I am living proof that volunteering really works.

Wayne’s World

Wayne Fieldhouse

“I moved to Grimsby from Great Yarmouth to escape some family problems.  As you can imagine when I first arrived it was a very lonely existence as I knew no-one from the area, my self esteem and confidence were at an all time low.

“Gradually with the high levels of support and encouragement I received from the Coaches I was able to begin taking on courses such as Ambassador Training, Peer Mentoring, Confidence Building and learning about drug and alcohol abuse.

“This in turn led to me beginning to volunteer around the building and putting myself forward for various activities – basically getting involved.

“It had always been my dream to have a career in the caring field working with perhaps disabled or learning disabled people or children.  I am happy to say that due to my interaction at the YM I have gained enough confidence to pursue this dream.  I am about to start a training course with Short Breaks, a local Grimsby based organisation that talks to parents of disabled children to establish needs 

and then offers befrienders.  Once trained I will take up that role – I now feel so much better and have a purpose to my life.”