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It was not long before the group expanded, drawing to it young men who were alone and lonely in the City of London. From this it quickly grew and George Williams and his friends recognised that they should not just serve young Christians and offer them support, but they should work with all people and meet the needs of all those with whom they worked day by day. An important distinction was made at this point that the organisation should become the Young Men's Christian Association not the Young Christian Men's Association. This principle remains central to the philosophy of YMCA work. The YMCA remains a Christian and Voluntary Organisation
working with women and men and today has grown into an international
organisation operating in over 100 countries world-wide with some
30 million members and programme participants. The YMCA in England
expresses its membership of the International Movement by being
a member of the European Alliance of YMCA's which in turn affiliates
to the World Alliance of YMCA's. In England there are over 160 Associations
and it is the central purpose of YMCA England to support these Associations
and develop new ones. The Mission Statement of YMCA England is contained
in Charter for 2000. The equilateral sides represent a balanced life in body, mind and spirit. Many variations of the traditional triangle exist. YMCA
As we have said, the YMCA is: A Christian Organisation These and other objectives have been encapsulated into a number of statements - The Paris Basis, The Kampala Principles and, in this country, our Aims and Purposes. (These are included in the appendices). These statements are the basis for the existence of every YMCA. They are statements of our mission. They are descriptions of our "ideal goals". They define the basis of our philosophy. CHARTER FOR 2000 Charter for 2000 has been developed and adopted as the contemporary Mission Statement for the YMCA Movement in England and therefore the focus of energy of the staff of YMCA England. A set of strategies to support the five key streams of Charter for 2000 were adopted in 1996. The YWCA The YMCA and the YWCA are two separate organisations which were set up with similar aims - to provide help and support for young people. The YWCA was founded in 1855 - its name copied from the, by then, well known YMCA, but distinguished in its activities by reaching women specifically. The YWCA of Great Britain provides women's centres, family worship, after-school clubs and youth clubs, produces education packs for schools on issues confronting young people, and contributes to national debates on issues affecting women. YMCA CORNWALL SHOPS |
The
YMCA Movement was founded in 1844 in London by George Williams.
George Williams was a young man who had come to London from Somerset
to learn the drapery trade. The drapery employed large numbers of
young men and George Williams held prayer meetings and Bible Studies
in his lodgings with other young drapery assistants who, like himself,
shared the Christian faith. 
The
initials "YMCA" and the sign of the Red Triangle are known
all over the world, but many of those who recognise the initials
do not know that they stand for "Young Men's Christian Association"
or have much knowledge of its Aims.