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
The YMCA Women’s Group meets every Wednesday from 11.30 am-1.30 pm.
Our trauma-informed, activities-based group is inspired by the women’s ideas.
Activities include arts and crafts, gentle exercise, feel-good and themed sessions, outings, and enjoyable learning opportunities. We also visit other spaces for activities, and occasionally welcome visitors who come to deliver sessions with the group.
The group usually brings together 6-10 diverse women who attend on a pre-planned drop-in basis. Women receive a text in advance of each session to let them know what’s happening and to remind them about the session. We work hard to make sure the group is a safe, supportive and positive space where women feel seen and heard, and where individual support is available if desired.
As our space is relatively small, this approach helps us make sure activities can take place safely and comfortably.
We also provide refreshments and a light lunch.
Anyone interested in attending will receive a very warm welcome.
For more information, please contact Maureen
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
