YMCA Heart of England’s Post

Here's a little bit of a different #SafetyTopic -- Water Safety. It's pool, lake, and beach season, and taking a swim is a great way to cool off. But water needs to be respected! This summer, take steps to make sure your loved ones -- especially kids -- are safe in and around the water. In my years with the Y, some of the key things we talked about when it comes to water safety are: 🙋♂️Make sure kids know they need to ask permission before getting in the water. Make it a habit. The child gets permission, and an adult is aware! 👀 While all adults should be paying attention, consider creating shifts with designated "Water Watchers." His or her job is to watch the summer fun like a hawk with no distractions. 📵 Put your phone down! Especially the Water Watcher. 💦 Don't just watch: Get in! Model safe behavior in and around water! 🏊♀️ And finally, the best way to keep kids safe around water is to enroll in swim lessons. The Y (YMCA) invented swim lessons, and there are Ys in communities across the country. Many (Most? All?) provide support for families to participate in programs like swim lessons, even if they are struggling financially. And if you're an adult who can't swim, The Y offers adult swim lessons as well! Will you commit to being a Water Watcher this summer? #watersafety #summertime

Our Radical Self and Community Care class on Reimagine is taking a break for the next two weeks. Join us in 2025 for self-care based on our Stillpoint book! #SelfCare #CommunityCare #letsreimagine #Stillpoint

Reflections on Giving Back, Compassion, and Changing Times Yesterday, I spent the morning helping the local Rotary Club sell raffle tickets at Bunnings to support youth initiatives and projects. Being the first time, It was an interesting experience that left me reflecting on the nature of generosity, connection, and how times are changing. I noticed that the majority of those who stopped to purchase tickets or make donations were from an older generation. Many shared heartfelt stories of how Rotary had supported them or their loved ones through difficult times. They wanted to give back or “pay it forward” to help others in need. At the same time, I observed that many people walked past the table without a glance—a stark contrast to those who stopped to engage. This made me reflect on how societal priorities and attitudes toward community giving may be shifting, and it’s a reminder of how important it is to foster connection and compassion in our increasingly fast-paced lives. These reflections tie closely to two incredible opportunities I had in 2018-2019: 1. The Churchill Fellowship, where I examined peer support programs to reduce mental health challenges in emergency service volunteers. 2. The NSW Health Judith Meppem Scholarship, where I explored how to grow and sustain compassionate workplace cultures. Both experiences reinforced the importance of creating spaces—whether in the workplace or the broader community—where compassion, kindness, and mutual support can thrive. Whether it’s through volunteering, leadership, or simply taking a moment to connect with someone, I remain committed to growing environments where people feel valued and supported, especially those facing struggle and distress. In a world that often feels more disconnected than ever, I believe taking the time to listen, engage, and give back is one of the most powerful ways we can make a lasting impact. #CompassionateLeadership #Community #Compassion #GivingBack #MentalHealth #ChurchillFellowship #JudithMeppemScholarship #CommunityMatters #Rotary

The Surrey Cultural Strategy says: 'We will tap into creativity to improve the quality of life & wellbeing of our most vulnerable' I read a lovely end of grant report today from Head2Head Theatre that epitomises this ethos. Funding from Community Foundation for Surrey's Tandridge Community Fund enabled a drama facilitator skilled in Makaton to carry out drama workshops with young people with a wide range of disabilities. The sessions entitled My Money Matters introduced participants to money management, an important aspect of independent living. Further sessions enabled participants to learn new skills in drama and improve their self-confidence. One participant, a selective mute, recorded a message that they played to the audience, demonstrating improved confidence and assurance. One participant acted as compere, introducing each performance to the audience. This gave reassurance to another participant who, in the last session, followed up the introduction with a few words of their own. We are hoping to be able to launch a new Fund in 2025 that will enable us to support more life-changing creative initiatives like this one, get in touch if you would like to support. Tamsin Williams #artsandculture #philanthropy #community #creativity

‘Increase access to green spaces to solve play crisis, charity urges next government’ - Children & Young People Now The Fields in Trust 2024 Green Space Index, raises concerns over the accessibility of playgrounds and recreational spaces for Britain's children, with clear implications on health, wellbeing, and physical activity levels. 🛝 2.3 million (1 in 3) under-nines live more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest playground. 🛝 Unfair access to playgrounds regionally, with children in the North East and West Midlands particularly likely to live more than ten minutes away from a playground. 🛝 Poor planning choices and historic underinvestment as driving factors which have created a ‘play crisis’. Councillors have warned that they cannot afford to maintain sites, and nearly 800 playgrounds have closed since 2013. Children are having their right to a place to play taken away. More must be done to address the play crisis. This👆🏼is why Play England are calling on the next Government to introduce #PlaySufficiency legislation in England, which would establish statutory guidance for local authorities to provide and secure sufficient play & recreation opportunities ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eKtJWuBg 🏫🚸🌿🍁🍂🪵 🚲 🛴 🛹🛼 🛝 🏃🏼♂️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏾👩🦽🚴🏿🚏🚶🏻🤸🏾♂️🤸🏼♂️🌳🏘️ #PlaySufficiency #FreePlay #Play #PhysicalLiteracy #PhysicalActivity #ActiveTravel #PlayStreet #SchoolStreets #StreetPlay #HomeZones #Splace #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN #KnowBallGames #Parks #UNCRC #Playgrounds #PublicRealm #Playces #RaisingTheNation

Volunteering at the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless’s Sort & Pack event was nothing short of epic! Seriously, seeing everyone—from kids to grandparents—come together to support one cause was just fantastic. I mean, who knew packing backpacks could be so motivational? Helping a community like LICH keeps me going; I could tell everyone else felt the same energy.   Now, let’s talk about the heat. I haven’t sweat that much since…well, ever. It was like Mother Nature decided to throw in a free sauna session! But honestly, it was all worth it. The thought of someone out there smiling because of the backpack I packed? Priceless. I can’t wait to do it again at the next event—hopefully, it’ll be a bit cooler!   Also, a big shoutout to our Jovia Financial Credit Union team members, who, internally throughout the organization, helped collect over 1,300 individual school supplies and to everyone who came out to help sort & pack those supplies. There’s a reason they say there’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’—it takes all of us together to make a significant impact, and we did a great job together. #CommunityEngagement #VolunteerExperience #NonprofitSupport #HomelessnessAwareness #Teamwork #CorporateSocialResponsibility #JoviaFinancial #LeadershipInAction #MakingADifference #SocialImpact #EmployeeVolunteering #GivingBack #CommunityOutreach

Have you heard about sharing time? Sharing time is a befriending service. We are currently looking for volunteers that can support and provide opportunities to reduce isolation and loneliness to local older people. Home Visiting: How a Volunteer Helps? 👂 Conversation - listening and talking. 💭 Sharing reminiscence - looking at photos. 🎲 Play board & card games, share crosswords & puzzles. ☎️ Read post, help with correspondence, and make phone calls. 🔨 Provide a link to other services and support. 🧑🏻🤝🧑🏼 Sharing Stories, Sharing Life (see below link for more information). 💻 Watch videos and clips, sharing an experience to talk about it, valuing conversation and reminiscing. Telephone Befriending: Our trained volunteers offer weekly friendship and support, sharing time over the telephone with an older person to reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Volunteers can: ❤️Reduce isolation and loneliness 🧑🏻🤝🧑🏼Create new friendships 💭Link the service user to other services and support For more information: 📨 sharingtime@ageukcap.org.uk 📱 01733 554963 🌐 https://bit.ly/3ZdNdi9 #reduceisolation #ageukcap #ageuk #cambridgeshire #charity #charitywork #volunteering #volunteers

Give Back: How to Make a Difference in Your Community Discover the importance of giving back and find out how you can contribute to a cause or organization that resonates with you. Join us as we discuss the various ways you can give back, beyond just financial contributions. #GiveBack #MakingADifference #CommunityInvolvement #VolunteerWork #SocialImpact #Philanthropy #SupportingCauses #CommunityService #GivingBackMatters #MakingAChange

Did you know that each year we give back through our Gift of Color Program? Check out this video to learn more about how we try to have an impact in our community. #community #impact #giving https://lnkd.in/dBjT76ax

Since 2004… We Cambridgeshire Community Foundation have awarded over £32 million through 10,000+ grants. We have supported thousands of organisations, including charities, community groups, schools and sports clubs. They have made a positive difference to hundreds of thousands of people. We have funded projects in every ward in Cambridgeshire. You can learn more about our impact in a new 20-year impact report and most importantly see some of the work of the incredible charities and community groups that make all the difference, especially for those facing the biggest challenges and disadvantage. Whilst I am proud to reflect on what has been achieved, our new Vital Signs report shows that there is still much, very much more to be done. For a brilliantly successful County like Cambridgeshire we can see that the gap between the wealthier and the more deprived districts has widened in the last decade. In our cities, there are stark inequalities relating to income, education, and health between the most and least deprived wards. In Cambridge, there is a 12 year difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived people! In a County, world-renowned for education, we are below the national average in indicators of early years development and school engagement. Poor outcomes for children eligible for free school meals reflect the impact of deprivation on education and sadly, later life prospects. If you or your business is interested to help people in your community through philanthropy and placed-based grant-making - please do get in touch. https://lnkd.in/dqipYz45