24 April 2009
Coventry and Warwickshire Young People go Head-to-Head at Pool Tournament
Young people from Coventry and Warwickshire went head-to-head in a special YMCA Inter-project Pool Tournament last weekend at Riley’s American Pool and Snooker Centre in Rugby. Nearly 32 young people took part, each representing the YMCA centre they currently attend.
Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA is committed towards giving young people opportunities to participate in positive and healthy activities, and the Pool Tournament is one of a range of activities that are regularly put on by staff at the many YMCA supported housing and youth and community projects in Coventry and Warwickshire. The event was intended to bring together the various young people currently living in YMCA supported accommodation to participate
The event was made possible thanks to the generosity and support of the staff and customers of Riley’s, who have worked hard to raise the funds to purchase trophies and cues for the competition. Other additional prizes of cinema tickets, vouchers and more were awarded to participants who demonstrated good sportsmanship and positive attitudes throughout the event.
The facilities were provided free of charge, and Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA are very grateful to the staff of Riley’s for helping organise the tournament and providing food and refreshments. The event was also attended by Andy Bucknell, GB Tour Pool Player.
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17 April 2009
New YMCA Furniture and clothing store opens in Coventry
A brand new YMCA Shop opened in Coventry City Centre this month, selling a range of furniture and clothing. The grand opening of the store will took place on Wednesday 15th April 2009. The shop is located at 41 Smithford Way, Coventry.
The former Millet’s store will be selling a wide range of quality furniture at affordable prices, along with household soft furniture, clothing, bric-a-brac and other goods.
All YMCA Shops are run primarily by volunteer staff, and the Smithford Way store will be no different. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA is asking for anyone looking to return to work or wishing to earn an extra qualification to pop into either YMCA Shop for a chat about volunteering. Anyone working as a volunteer in a YMCA Shop can achieve free NVQs in customer service and/or retail operations.
The new shop is set to repeat the success of the other YMCA shop on Trinity Street, which has had a great year of helping raise funds and awareness for the YMCA in Coventry since opening in May 2008. Now with two stores open in Coventry the YMCA is continuing to increase its public profile within the region.
For more information, to donate furniture or to apply as a volunteer please drop into either of the YMCA Shops, or contact Julie Newby of YMCA England on julie.newby@england.ymca.org.uk.
Doreen Lennon, CEO of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA said, “In these tough economic times YMCA Shops are great for providing important goods such as furniture and clothing without putting too much strain on your wallet. It’s also a great way for young people to earn experience and qualifications through volunteering to help them get into work.”
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23 March 2009
State-of-the-art Stoke Aldermoor YMCA Centre gets go-ahead
The Stoke Aldermoor area of Coventry is to benefit from a new multi-million pound youth centre thanks to new funding awarded to Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA.
The new facility, provisionally to be named “The ‘Y’ – Stoke Aldermoor Inspiration Centre”, has been made possible thanks to a substantial funding award from MYPLACE, which is delivered on behalf of the DCSF on behalf of The Big Lottery Fund. The total amount of funding awarded to Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA from Myplace will be £2,227,748. Both Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA and Myplace share the vision of world-class youth facilities designed and developed with the active participation of young people, their families and the local community.
The building is planned as part of a large, integrated holistic partnership of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, the PCT (Primary Care Trust) and St. Catherine’s Church. The YMCA centre will incorporate a range of functions which have been identified through initial consultation with young people and the local community of Stoke Aldermoor. These will include:
• Training suites which will provide a range of training opportunities, job clubs, volunteering programmes
• Young business enterprise zone
• Internet cafe
• Multimedia studios
• Large hall/fitness space
• Youth kitchen
• The ‘den’ chill-out space
• Arts and crafts studio
The new project is being developed in consultation with local residents and young people, as well as partner organisations and Coventry City Council, a process which has been ongoing for the last 1½ years. The first round of consultation highlighted the need for a world-class facility for young people, as well as the range of other services that the YMCA provides such as supported housing and life skills training to help young people move become independent and be able to move on in a positive way with their lives. The construction of the new building, located on Whitmore Avenue, is expected to be completed by late 2010.
This is the second major funding award that Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA have received in recent months. In addition, £1.9m was awarded to the organisation from the Youth Sector Development Fund (YSDF) which will compliment the existing projects in supported housing and youth and community projects in Coventry and Warwickshire, including the new Stoke Aldermoor centre and exciting new work . This includes a massive increase in the amount of street-based youth work in Coventry and Warwickshire, the training of 30 young people as peer mentors and qualified youth support workers, and increasing the targeted work with young offenders, and the creation of new, positive activities for young people.
Currently young people in Stoke Aldermoor have few dedicated facilities available to them. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA works in People’s Place youth activity centre jointly with Coventry City Council Youth Service. This centre has become a great success in recent years, providing young people with a safe and secure place to meet, have fun, and participate in shared activities with their peers, however it is a small shop unit that cannot meet the long term needs and aspirations of young people in the area.
Doreen Lennon, Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA said, “We are very excited to have this opportunity to work with the young people, their families and the local community to provide new opportunities for young people in the future and to compliment the dedicated work of local groups such as the Stoke Aldermoor Resident’s Association and Life Group.
“It is vitally important to give young people the help and support they need and the Stoke Aldermoor Inspiration Centre will be designed to do precisely that. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA has an excellent record of helping young people build a better future, and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to bring this to Stoke Aldermoor.”
Colin Green, Director of Children, Learning and Young People for Coventry City Council said, “This is a great development for young people in Stoke Aldermoor and the city. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA have done a great job working with young people to develop this very exciting project and it is great to see their hard work rewarded.”
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16 February 2009
Coventry young people grill Prime Minister on economic future
Young people from Coventry were among a select group invited to a Q&A session with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday 13th February 2009. Among those present were a group from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA including staff and young people who have benefitted from the organisation’s work.
The event was centred on the current economic crisis and the effects that the recession was having on local businesses and organisations in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
Among the group was Michael Dobson, a voluntary youth worker and young leader at The Tooth, a YMCA youth activity centre in Coventry’s Willenhall area. Michael was able to ask the Prime Minister a question directly, who referred to Michael a “very enterprising young man”.
Michael’s question related to the training available to young people looking to enter work, and how these training schemes risked losing out as funding becomes more scarce in the current economic climate. After the main session, Michael caught up with the Prime Minister to discuss his point further.
Michael asked how the Prime Minister could support young people like him, who until recently had no job experience or qualifications, but through the work of the YMCA in Coventry he had received individually tailored support and training, which had resulted in him becoming an effective and respected young leader. With many people becoming unemployed in the current economic climate the help and support provided by organisations like the YMCA is becoming increasingly important.
Doreen Lennon, Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, also attended the event. She said, “We are very proud of the way our young people participated in the event. It is important the voices of young people are heard within all levels of government, all the way to the top.”
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5 February 2009
YMCA – YSDF partnership marks new beginning for Coventry young people
A new investment of £1.9 million is to benefit the young people of Coventry and Warwickshire over the next two and a half years thanks to the new funding partnership between Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA and the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Youth Sector Development Fund. In the second round of tendering the YMCA is one of only 13 youth organisations and charities around the UK to have secured this valuable funding and of these it is the only one based in the West Midlands. With this new funding Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA will be able to deliver new and better service to the young people around the region.
The bidding process was highly competitive, involving 76 different organisations from around the UK who all submitted proposals to the YSDF managing body and DCFS officials. The funding from YSDF is targeted at organisations who work to prevent young people committing crime or becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, gun or gang crime. In Coventry and Warwickshire the YMCA is highly involved in maintaining close links to young people in the community, and working closely with them to promote positive activities through its youth and community projects around the city. The new YSDF funding will compliment the existing and highly successful projects and services set up around Coventry and Warwickshire that have had a significant impact and provided positive changes in the lives of young people.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding from the YSDF, especially as we are the only organisation from the West Midlands to do so,” said Doreen Lennon, Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA. “Young people in Coventry and around the region are often poorly represented within the community. With this new opportunity given to us from the YSDF we will be able to expand on our highly successful work giving help and support to young people, giving them a strong, positive voice within society today and helping them build a better future.”
Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA provides a range of supported housing accommodation projects throughout the region. These provide varying levels of holistic support to its young residents, such as valuable life skills and help and advice for entering work, education and young business enterprise as well as letting them move into full independent living at a pace that suits them individually. Currently Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA has 70 residents living in supported accommodation.
As well as accommodation, Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA runs Youth and Community projects throughout the area. The Tooth, People’s Place and the YMCA Community Centre are youth activity centres which operate in Willenhall, Stoke Aldermoor and the Pridmore estate respectively. These centres offer a range of accredited educational and vocational programmes for young people during the day, which include motor courses, survival courses, sports leadership, motorbike projects, video/media courses, global citizenship, graffiti and fine art, cooking and healthy lifestyles courses, life skills courses and scuba diving courses. During the evening these centres are opened to local young people and act as safe, stable places for them to meet, socialise and enjoy themselves through a variety of programmes including music, arts and sports-based provisions.
“The YMCA plays a vital part in providing services for young people in the City. They make a huge difference to young people’s lives providing excellent accommodation for young people leaving care, positive activities for young people and support for others in their education and training,” said Colin Green, Director of Children, Learning and Young People at Coventry City Council. “We look forward to working with them in the future to improve the lives of young people in Coventry”.
In addition, there are other major projects for both supported housing and youth and community work lined up for the future to enable Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA increase their presence in communities throughout the region. New staff will also joining the organisation in order to properly support the expanded range services that the YMCA provides.
With new funding becoming available from a variety of sources in the near future, Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA are always on the lookout for new partner organisations that share the same goals and wish to enter a mutually beneficial arrangement together. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA is committed to helping young people achieve their full potential in life.
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16 January 2009
A grand launch for new YMCA Community Centre
Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA are pleased to announce that on Saturday 31st January 2009 a new community centre will enjoy its grand opening in the Pridmore Estate.
The grand launch event will feature guest appearances from the Kombat Breakers who will do a performance of their breathtaking and unique breakdancing style. The centre will be officially opened by Coventry Lord Mayor Andy Matchet.
There will also be an official hand-over of the keys to the building from Orbit Heart of England, which built the centre in 2007 as part of a £4m regeneration scheme, to the new tenants, YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire.
The new initiative was made possible after the YMCA received donations from local agencies including Youth Opportunity Funding, PAYP, Community Safety Team, Neighbourhood Management and £10,000 from Orbit Heart of England when it won the first-place award in the Orbit Group ‘Cash 4 Communities’ competition last year, an initiative that specifically intended to strengthen local community services.
The event will also be an ideal opportunity for members of the local community in the Pridmore Estate and beyond to meet the staff from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA and share their thoughts on the new community centre and how they would like to be involved with the community project in the future. In addition representatives from Orbit Heart of England and the other partners who have helped make the Pridmore Estate’s YMCA Community Centre a reality.While it will initially be known simply as the YMCA Community Centre, the building will eventually be renamed through a competition run among the young people who attend the centre. The centre is to operate as a hub for all of the YMCA youth and community work that is to take place within the area, and will also serve as a youth centre and community centre, offering a safe and controlled environment for young people to enjoy as well as activities for youth club members to enjoy. In addition the building will feature an in-house computer training suite which will be host to a variety of courses throughout the academic year.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to expand Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA and to work with the local community around the Pridmore estate through this exciting new project,” said Doreen Lennon, Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA.
Stewart Fergusson, managing director of Orbit Heart of England, said: “An essential part of our work as one of Coventry’s leading affordable housing providers is to help support community initiatives and create bright futures for local people and communities. The new centre is a big step towards achieving this aim.”
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08 December 2008
The Tooth gets a magnificent makeover from talented young people
The Tooth, one of Coventry’s most popular youth clubs has been given a magnificent new makeover from its members. Many of the young people who attend club are now poised to complete The Tooth’s Graffiti and Fine Art course, an ASDAN-accredited course which has helped them express themselves through art and given this Willenhall youth club an exciting new look.
The young people taking part in this course have turned their considerable talents to redecorating the exterior of The Tooth. The building now sports a large, stunning graffiti mural which represents the positive and negative factors that young people confront in their daily lives. The mural was designed and created entirely by young people, and is a lasting display of their talent and commitment as members of the local community.
Run by dedicated staff from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, The Tooth offers a wide variety of activities and projects for young people to enjoy, ranging from academic and vocational courses to fun activities and days out. The range of activities is designed to stimulate young people, divert them from anti-social activities and keep them engaged in education.
The Tooth building itself was originally a dentist’s office and was converted to serve as a youth club in the Willenhall area four years ago. Since then the club has become an important community and social hub within the area and now has almost 500 members. The Tooth has been praised by local police for its effect reducing crime levels within the area during the past four years.
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29 October 2008
Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA turns 120
Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA turned 120 years old in October 2008, and on Wednesday October 29th a special celebration event took place at our Daimler Green head office.
Originally set up in 1888, the YMCA in Coventry and Warwickshire has undergone many changes over the years, but its commitment to helping the young people of the Coventry and Warwickshire has remained strong throughout. The YMCA has provided housing and support for vulnerable young people in the region for over a century as well as youth centres and activities.
At the celebration event the achievements of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA were showcased to chart the organisation’s progress over the past 120 years.
In addition, young people who currently access YMCA services in Coventry and Warwickshire were present at the event to share their experiences of how the YMCA has worked with them.
Among the guests who attended the event were the Lord Mayor Andy Matchet and Colin Green, director of Children, Learning and Young People at Coventry City Council.
Mr Green said, “I am delighted to join the celebration for Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA’s 120th birthday.
“The YMCA plays a vital part in providing services for young people in the City. They make a huge difference to young people’s lives providing excellent accommodation for young people leaving care, positive activities for young people and support for others in their education and training. We look forward to working with them in the future to improve the lives of young people in Coventry”.
In addition, two prominent board members of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA were presented with specially-commissioned awards during the celebration event.Chairman Kenneth Holmes and Vice-Chairman Peter Amery were recognised for their years of committed and dedicated service to the organisation.
Between them both Mr Holmes and Mr Amery have given 53 years of service in a voluntary capacity as board members. Mr Holmes has been on the board for 28 years and Mr Amery for 25 years. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA is extremely grateful for their tireless efforts supporting the organisation and wish to show their gratitude with the awards which are being presented.
All of the members of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA’s executive board are volunteers, and provide the organisation with much-needed help and support.
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20 October 2008
YMCA chairman speaks at Tokyo conference
The chairman of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, Kenneth Holmes, has delivered a paper on the theme of global citizenship at the Asia-Pacific YMCA Alliance Forum in Tokyo this October.
The entire forum was based on the theme of global citizenship, which has become a major part of the global YMCA movement since its proposal by Mr Holmes at the YMCA World Council meeting in Durban, South Africa in 2006.
The global citizenship resolution aims to help young people around the world gain a better understanding of issues affecting young people in countries different to their own. By implementing the resolution the YMCA hopes to create better links between young people around the world and foster greater understandings of different cultures.
Mr Holmes also presented a specially engraved silver plate as a gift from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA to the Asia-Pacific YMCA Alliance (pictured).
Mr Holmes said, “As Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA I’m thrilled on behalf of the local association that the global citizenship resolution started here.”
“The programme is to understand better how to develop a better humanity for all peoples of our globe, not just a portion of them.”
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23 September 2008
Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA to celebrate 120th Anniversary
This October Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA will be celebrating their 120th anniversary.
Originally formed in 1888 Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA has undergone many changes over the years, and a special celebration event will be held on Wednesday 29th October for members and partner organisations.
The event will also feature a range of young people who currently access the services and facilities of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA. In addition the many achievements made by the YMCA over the years will be showcased in a celebration of 120 years of work with young people.
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08 September 2008
YMCA Raise Money in Coventry Centre
COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE YMCA have held a successful fundraising event in Coventry city centre. On 22nd August 2008, volunteers and staff from the organisation took to the city streets in order to make a public collection to help fund their projects to help young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.
In total, £146.68 was raised during the day from contributions made by kind members of the public. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA would like to thank the people of Coventry for their generosity.
Among the volunteers that helped with the collection were Leeroy Bailey and Leon Lea of the Kombat Breakers, who brought their customary energy and showmanship to the event.
The funds raised will primarily contribute towards the recent trip to Prague which was undertaken by several young people from YMCA projects in Coventry and Warwickshire. The group represented Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA at the YMCA EUROPE FESTIVAL 2008 earlier in August.
Fundraising for this and all other YMCA projects continues. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA is always on the lookout for contributions to help fund its work with young people in the community, as well as corporate sponsors and partners who can provide help and support for the organisation’s work.
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01 August 2008
Bench-Builders give YMCA Young People Snack-time Seating Surprise
Learners at a Kenilworth training provider have served up a snack-time surprise for young people at a local residential project at Rotherham Road, which is owned and run by Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA.
Teenage trainees at Arthur Rank Training (ART) built an attractive picnic table for the garden at the YMCA project in Holbrook, Coventry as part of their studies towards City and Guilds qualifications in construction skills.
The talented trio all came to ART via the national Entry to Employment (E2E) programme, which provides a post-16 pathway to skills and employment for school-leavers needing extra support before entering the workplace.
The picnic bench was the brainchild of a fellow learner - vehicle maintenance trainee Craig Carter, another of the residents at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA’s Rotherham Road residential project.
“I heard construction trainees talking about making the picnic benches so I mentioned the YMCA would be interested,” said 17-year-old Craig.
“It’s worked out really well because it didn’t take long for some of the lads to make it as a project. Everyone down at Rotherham Road is really pleased because we didn’t have many places to sit outside before.”
One of the team who built the bench, 16-year-old Liam Bromley from Warwick, said he really enjoyed getting stuck into such a practical project in his first few weeks at Arthur Rank Training. “It’s really good to know that people are going to benefit from the training we’re getting,” said Liam.
“It’s not like at school where you get taught in a classroom but don’t always get to use what you’ve learnt anywhere else. It’s been a really good way to get started with my career – my plans now are to keep working hard, learn a trade and work in building and landscaping.”
Colin Matthews, manager at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA’s Rotherham Road residential project said: “The YMCA project at Holbrook has quite a big garden and a few of the young people who live there said they would like to have some sort of benches to sit on. That gave Craig the idea so we got in touch with Arthur Rank and were over the moon when they said they would donate a purpose-made bench for us.
“This is an excellent example of the sort of partnership projects we look for to help our residents think and act independently as they overcome some quite substantial barriers to take responsibility for their own social and working lives.
Paul Betty, chief executive of Arthur Rank Training, said: “This was a great opportunity to put a training project to a genuine, practical use and form a mutually beneficial partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA. It’s really boosted the learners’ morale to know that something they’ve made is being enjoyed and put to a practical use.”
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30 July 2008
A European Trip of a Lifetime for Coventry Young People
Five young people who have been involved in YMCA projects in the Coventry and Warwickshire area are set to attend an amazing global gathering of YMCAs from all over Europe and the rest of the world this August.
The YMCA EUROPE FESTIVAL 2008 is to be held in the beautiful and historic city of Prague on 3rd – 9th August 2008. The festival is a celebration of worldwide Christian fellowship, the growth and strength of the YMCA and national and cultural diversities. Representatives from YMCAs in over 50 different countries will be present at the festival, and five young people from Coventry have been given the chance of a lifetime to join the celebrations in the glamorous city of Prague.
In total, five young people will be attending the festival from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA. All of these have been involved in YMCA projects in the past few years; three are currently residents at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA residential projects, while the other two are young leaders at the Tooth youth club in Willenhall. Three members of YMCA staff will accompany them on the trip.
The festival will also be a great chance for young people from Britain to share their experiences with those from other countries. The vast diversity of cultures which will be joining together in Prague this August will allow the young representatives from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA to compare how they have worked with the YMCA with other young people from many different nations.
They will also be able to share the challenges they have faced in their lives with peers from around Europe while they are at the festival.
A number of different events will be put on at the festival to celebrate every aspect of the work that YMCAs do around the world. These range from concerts and talks from a variety of speakers to workshops and other creative programmes, all aimed at inspiring young people from around Europe.
A number of fundraising events have helped to give the five young people from Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA the chance to travel to Prague and attend this unique and exciting event. These have so far included the ‘Prague At Dogma’ event at DOGMA BAR in Coventry, with more still to come. In addition, donations from local businesses are helping fund the trip.
Doreen Lennon, Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, said, “This event will be a life-changing experience for these young people. It will help to inspire them to become involved in issues affecting young people back here in Coventry, and possible solutions.”
The YMCA Europe Festival 2008 is the second European gathering of YMCAs on this massive scale to date. The previous festival took place in 2003 on the 30th anniversary of YMCA Europe (the European Alliance of YMCAs). The event was a huge success, and the Executive Committee of YMCA Europe in Prague is keen to repeat this success in 2008. The promotional video available at the festival website shows clips of the 2003 festival.
For many young people involved with Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, the chance to go to such a historic and glamorous city as Prague and experience the excitement of the YMCA Europe Festival 2008 is the opportunity of a life time.
This story was reported in the Coventry Telegraph, and can be read online here.
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12 July 2008
Awards Presentation for Coventry Young People
An awards presentation for young people who have excelled on a range of YMCA-run vocational courses took place on Wednesday 25th June at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA’s main office at Daimler Green.
The awards were given out by Doreen Lennon, Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA Chief Executive and Shaun Donnelly, Community Project Manager. The presentation was also attended by staff from Ernesford Grange School, Alice Stevens School and Neighbourhood Management.
In total 41 young people who have taken part on these courses received awards, either certificates or trophies. The presentation took place in the lounge and computer lab at Daimler Green.
The alternative curriculum scheme works in partnership with local schools, as well as several other organisations including WAYC, Coombe Abbey, Community Nutrition and others. Students on reduced school timetables and those who may otherwise struggle at school are nominated to take part in the different courses at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA.
All courses last for 10 weeks, and Wednesday’s awards presentation marked the culmination of all the hard work of the young people who have participated in the courses.
The courses include the following:
- Motoring skills
- Outdoor survival
- Citizenship in action
- First aid
- Music and technology
- Self esteem
The courses are accredited by ASDAN, OCN and the Duke of Edinburgh Award (links below) and give opportunities for young people to build on their own skills and talents to achieve their maximum potential in these areas. They are designed to complement formal education in school and help prepare young people for challenges they may face in later life, as well as presenting them with new possibilities for the future.
Doreen Lennon, Chief Executive at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, said, “This is a fantastic achievement for all the young people involved. I hope this is the start of many such awards presentations here at Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA.”
This story was reported in the Coventry Telegraph.
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30 June 2008
Top Bands to Perform at Dogma Bar
This Wednesday 2nd July one of Coventry’s premier bars will bring a touch of cosmopolitan glamour to the city with PRAGUE AT DOGMA. The glamorous atmosphere of Prague will mix with the stylish ambience of DOGMA BAR for this special fundraising event for Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA. To make the evening complete, a selection of top bands will perform throughout the event.
Confirmed acts for the event include:
- Enemyself
- Indecent Exposure
- Three Tails
- Swamp Angels
- Too Late for Thursday
- One Last Chance
- Lost the Plot
- DJ Raymondo
The bar will open at 7pm and remain open until late in the evening. Tickets are available in advance from Dogma on 02476 230 088. On the door tickets will cost £3.
The event is presented in association with Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA, Lost The Plot Productions and Youth Music, and proceeds from the event will help to fund YMCA projects in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
Among these projects is the YMCA EUROPE 2008 festival, to be held in Prague this August. Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA are aiming to send several young people to attend this amazing event and celebrate the fellowship of YMCAs from all around Europe. The festival in Prague also provides this Wednesday’s event with its cosmopolitan theme.
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10 June 2008
Coventry & Warwickshire YMCA Shop Opening
A new YMCA Shop opened in Trinity Street, Coventry on Monday 19th May 2008. It offers quality furniture, bric-a-brac and clothes at affordable prices.
Donated stock sold in the YMCA Shop will allow the residents of Coventry to get the best bargains, whilst helping fund a range of services for disadvantaged young people.
The shop was officially opened by The Kombat Breakers.
Julie Newby District Manager said “we are really excited about our new shop in Coventry. It will be a great place to go for affordable shopping”.
You can help support your local YMCA Shop by volunteering or donating furniture, clothing and household items whether you are an individual, or a business, looking to give end of line stock. We are happy to collect valuable or bulky items.
YMCA Shops are part of a network of 140 YMCA’s working to ensure that young people have opportunities to strive and contribute positively to their communities.
For more information please contact the YMCA Shop on 02476 251174.
This story was reported in the Coventry Telegraph and can be read online here.