A Million Bed Nights!

Robin Wynne-Hughes - Chairman

Since the YMCA moved to The Walk 25 years ago we have provided close on to one million bed-nights of temporary accommodation in our housing projects in Cardiff! In the mid 1980s we moved quickly from our original aim of operating a student and young worker hostel to providing support and shelter for homeless people as there was a rapidly growing need in the City for such a service.

The YMCA, as so often in its 160 year history, in Cardiff saw a need in the local community and stepped forward to be part of the solution. Over this last quarter of a century we have developed both our range of accommodation and the way in which we work with our residents. It has given me a great deal of satisfaction to have been present throughout the whole of that time as an active committee member from the original development stages in the 1970s through to the present day – together with fellow trustee, Alan Crocker. In recent times, and in particular the last twelve months we have not just concentrated on providing for the immediate needs of homeless people but also tried to address the causes of their homelessness.

We understand that it is no longer enough to simply put a roof over someone’s head. To this end we have followed the Welsh Assembly’s priority “to ensure we effectively support the most vulnerable members of our society in leading fulfilling and independent lives” (Andrew Davies, Minister for Social Justice and Public Service Delivery, at the Shelter Cymru Conference). This is fitting as much of this part of our mission is reliant upon the grant funding we receive from the Welsh Assembly. Our move-on policies, Work Incentive Scheme and Design for Life Project are testimony to this. As a Christian based organisation what better Christian act could we perform than not just to provide shelter, food and support, but also to give a person the independence to be sheltered and fed without needing the support? We have achieved much in the last 25 years and as you will see from this annual report, 2006-7 was no exception. Again this year we have done well to develop our committee membership, ensuring a good balance of skills and experience. In particular I welcome on board Andrea Phillips and Angela Dutton. I offer my thanks to my fellow Trustees and Committee members and to the staff for their support and hard work throughout this “Silver Jubilee”.

The end of one year marks the start of another and I look forward to being part of the exciting plans we have for 2007/8.