Projects

YMCA Dickerage

Completed: 2021
Location: New Malden, Kingston upon Thames
Region: London
Other local partners: Dulux, Sport England, Toolstation

About the project

YMCA Dickerage Sports & Community Centre, in New Malden, Kingston Upon Thames, is an integral part of its community providing local, young people from diverse backgrounds opportunities to socialise and take part in sports and activities, whilst also providing opportunities to gain qualifications. This made it an ideal project for VIY to help with.

With funding from Sport England and Toolstation, who also helped to supply materials alongside Travis Perkins, the centre saw a complete revamp of its outdoor spaces including new outdoor seating being built, a new digital education space built and its kitchen and café area refurbished.

The project was completed by 31 volunteers, many of them not involved with mainstream education or training, aged between 14-24. Across 560 hours of work these young people achieved 38 Level 3 City & Guild accreditations in carpentry, health & safety and painting & decorating.

Daniel Slocombe, Centre Manager for YMCA Dickerage, said: “This is the most excited I’ve been since working here – the refurbishment will make a huge difference to young people and their lives… Community is so important and after COVID-19, the centre is helping bring everybody together… It is more multicultural and multi-generational than ever before.“

The young people really enjoyed the carpentry as they got to see their work come to life very quickly and they surprised themselves when they realised what they can build with just a little nudge from the mentors. Imran Younas, National Head Mentor
I feel really emotional, like I want to cry, it looks so different and I am just having an absolute blast seeing the transformation and a place for the kids to go properly. My mental health isn't the best at the moment but projects like this really help and I just want to do more! Jamie Ozard, young volunteer from The Amber Foundation