An introduction to Southampton YMCA

Origins of the YMCA

In 1844, George Williams, a young man from Dulverton in Somerset, founded the YMCA. George moved to London to become a draper's assistant and quickly became concerned about the spiritual and moral welfare of the 140 young men who worked with him. It was not long before he obtained permission from his employers to hold prayer meetings in his bedroom, and from this small beginning the YMCA was founded on 6 June 1844.

From this humble start the YMCA has grown to become one of the largest youth and community welfare charities in the United Kingdom and is amongst the world’s largest Christian charities.

Southampton YMCA

Southampton YMCA started in 1878, and expanded in 1885 with the purchase of premises in Ogle Road. Through this the YMCA was able to provide a gymnasium and additional rooms ‘fulfilling the Christian objectives of moral, spiritual and physical improvement of young men’.

The premises at Ogle Road continued to provide an important meeting place where young men were able to find refuge together with opportunities to explore the Christian Faith.

Expansion

The work of the YMCA expanded during the First World War, as it provided refreshments for troops passing through the city, along with facilities with space and materials for relaxing, reading and writing home.

After the war, membership of the YMCA remained high and in 1927 new premises were purchased at Cranbury Place. Named George Williams House, the new facilities aimed to meet the growing demand for social and recreational activities. These enlarged premises provided a base for an extended provision of meals and support to the armed forces during the Second World War, which, at its height, saw the YMCA providing 600 meals a day, operating a fleet of nine mobile canteens, and a motor launch in the dock area.

With the return to peacetime activities, an expansion of Higher Education and apprenticeship schemes in the City brought a need for student accommodation and in the 1960s a new block of single study bedrooms was opened with the assistance of the British Council to provide a home for young people living away from home for the first time.

This ‘New Forest Wing’ served the young people of the city for 30 years until in the late 1990s when it became apparent that the housing and support needs of young people had changed.

As a result a new complex of 40 self-catering units, in which young people could live independent lives with access to the skilled support of YMCA staff, was developed in conjunction with The Housing Corporation and YMCA England. The new complex opened in May 2000.