What We Do
Mentoring
YMCA Edinburgh provides mentoring support for young people aged 8–14 through three dedicated programmes: PlusOne, Intandem, and Intandem Kinship.
Based at our community hub in Leith, we match trained Volunteer Mentors with young people across Leith and the rest of Edinburgh, offering consistent, 1-to-1 emotional and practical support.
These relationships are built on trust, empathy, and shared activities – helping young people feel heard, valued, and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges.
Youth & Play
YMCA Play services offer free, supervised play for Primary aged children in Leith. The services initially were set up for children living in and around Cables Wynd House. In 2023 we were pleased to receive funding from the People’s Postcode Trust to expand services, specifically to welcome in young people from Ukraine who are here in Leith following the war.
Throughout the school holidays we provide Holiday Playschemes for local Primary aged children.
Delivered in partnership with Pilmeny Development Project (PDP) we offer 2 weekly wellbeing groups for girls aged 8-12 and 12+ in Leith.
YMCA Edinburgh also provides youth work support to the popular Street Soccer football session at Leith Community Centre on Fridays and a Friday evening, early-intervention youth sports project, Friday Night Lights.
Supportive Women’s Group
Our Women’s Group attracts a wide range of women from the local Leith community and further afield. Ranging from early 20’s to early 90’s, the women come from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds facing personal challenges including loneliness, poverty, physical and mental health issues, relationship difficulties, addiction, stress and low self-esteem.
The Group meets weekly on a Wednesday from 12:30 to 14:30.
Advance Booking is Essential
For more information please contact Maureen McGonigle
Phone: 07936 928811 Email: maureen@ymcaedinburgh.com
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Activity sessions provide an opportunity to develop new skills, grow in confidence and have fun. We have also been able to organise family trips in the summer holidays. These were hugely successful, providing the women and their children with opportunity for a great day out and the chance to get to know each other better in a different environment. To learn more about the positive effects of running our Women’s Group watch the videos below.
Participation and Voice
We believe children, young people and communities should have a voice and shape the decisions that affect their lives. Through The Equals Youth Forum, Cables Wynd House residents’ forum and community consultations, we create meaningful opportunities for people to influence services, local change and the direction of YMCA Edinburgh.
This year, we have expanded our work to include youth-led climate action, using co-production approaches to develop local environmental solutions driven by young people themselves.
For more information please contact Louisa Richardson, Participation and Wellbeing Lead.
Phone: 07935 419067
Email: louisa@ymcaedinburgh.com
