Community
Volunteering

The YMCA depends entirely on the good will and commitment of its volunteers to deliver its services.  It is essential therefore that effective volunteer recruitment and support systems are in place, including a clear, well understood organisational structure with sound reporting mechanisms.

Kilmarnock YMCA utilises the skills and experience of volunteers to help deliver its services and currently provides volunteer placements for 10 local people.  Volunteer roles vary and include youth work, drop in support, administration and gardening.  We work closely with East Ayrshire Volunteer Centre and receive referrals from the centre to fill any volunteering vacancies. 

Volunteers who give their time to work with us are valued and can benefit from a range of supports including induction and ongoing training opportunities e.g. an annual residential team building event, access to the wider YMCA network of volunteers, help with CV and job applications. 

If you are interested in a volunteering position, you can contact us directly for an application form or contact us via Maureen Murphy at the Volunteer Centre.

We would love to hear from you

Workshops

WORKSHOP SESSION 1

RISK ASSESSMENT

Toolkit for Beginners Facilitated by

This session will provide an introduction to the principles of risk management and an overview of how it can support YMCA’s in meeting their strategic goals.  Marsh will use the workshop to present an updated version of the YMCA risk management toolkit with practical tips on using it.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facilitated by

This session demonstrated how to plan great online content that converts, looking at the importance of a simple social media strategy focused on creating content that users will connect with - driving engagement, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, storytelling and beyond.  It explored how to understand which online channels to use, how to find out which types of content your users will find interesting or useful and how you can measure success.  It covered real-world content examples, exploring a range of channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, blogging, video and audio. This session is suitable for all levels of experience.

Y CARE INTERNATIONAL

Local to Global: An introduction to Global Youth Work (Recommended for those delivering youth work) Facilitated by

As youth workers we can sometimes feel uncertain about how to approach global issues such as poverty or climate change with young people, perhaps choosing to cover local issues that feel more ‘comfortable’. However, through a methodology called Global Youth Work Y Care International enables young people to explore the global dimension of local issues affecting their lives. This introductory session for youth workers (staff or volunteers) gave a taster of how to encourage young people to view their lives in the context of the wider world.  It covered how to use Global Youth Work in the activities or projects that are already running and give demonstrations and  example sessions to run with young people.

DRUGS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Facilitated by

This informal and interactive session provided a brief overview of the substances and their associated effects.

Participants had access to interactive educational resources used to inform young people, communities, carers, teachers and professionals of the smell, look and dangers associated to an array of different substances.

This session provided an overview of substances in general, covering polydrug use and implications.

Furthermore, the session highlighted the status of NPS, so called “legal highs”, how it has effected many individuals and communities and how people are being educated now on the dangers of these.

WORKSHOP SESSION 2

RISK ASSESSMENT

For those already using the toolkit Facilitated by

This session is aimed at those YMCA’s with established risk management processes in place. It encourages organisations to consider the extent to which risk management is integrated into service delivery and aligned with other risk disciplines, for example, Health and Safety and Well-being at Work, and facilities management.

Y CARE INTERNATIONAL/HERITAGE YOUNG ROOTS PROJECT

Facilitated by

Heritage Young Roots Project

As part of the heritage project we have heard about some local and national Heritage.  Some of you may even have been enough to see the Story of Sir George Williams as part of the Soul in the Machine production. During his story Sir George Williams is very passionate about the rise of YMCAs across the world and global experiences for young people. To add to our understanding of our heritage this workshop looked at the history of Y Care and how it might tie in with our understanding of our heritage here in Scotland.  

Challenge of a lifetime: Volunteering overseas (Recommended for 17+ year olds)

Y Care International works in the world’s poorest communities to help young people help themselves out of poverty. In this session volunteers learned all about how they can make a difference to young people’s lives by volunteering overseas for 10-12 weeks in a YMCA in Africa or Asia. The session looked at poverty, what this means at home and abroad and how young people can create an awesome application to volunteer on the International Citizen Service (ICS). ICS is completely free, you don’t need cash or qualifications, just the drive to want to make a difference.

NATIONAL YOUTH WORK OUTCOMES

Facilitated by

Volunteers found out more about the National Youth Work Outcomes, how they relate to Scottish Government Priorities and Policy, and how you can use them to explain and measure the impact of your Youth Work.

YMCA logo

YMCA Plus
40 Soulis Street
Kilmarnock
KA3 1AP

  • Peoples Postcode Lottery
  • Foundation Scotland
  • Scottish Government
  • East Ayrshire Council
  • YouthLink Scotland
  • Lottery Funded
  • Comic Relief