YMCA Central Inc is a not for profit organisation, committed to strengthening families and youth development. We are the recent amalgamation of the former YMCA of Greater Wellington Inc and YMCA Central Inc (Whanganui & Palmerston North) as well as YMCA Masterton back in the early 2000s.
We’re part of a global family, but proud to be 100% locally responsive to our communities as well as affiliated to the National YMCA of NZ. We operate in over 30 communities from Whanganui across to the Wairarapa and down to Wellington City. Our network is comprised of centres which are owned and operated by YMCA, and a number of programmes through partnerships schools, as well as others with central government agencies such as Ministry of Education and local government agencies.
We reinvest into local communities through our philanthropic programmes and have strategic partnerships with funders and like minded organisations which allow all those unable but still willing to still participate in our programmes.
Our facilities are a place for families. From babies to grandparents and everyone in between we offer a wide range of services with something for everyone in the family.
We’re over 150 years old, and our rich history mirrors the history of New Zealand. Dedicated work over many years has laid the foundation to continue our work reinvesting in local communities, now and for many years to come. We’re here for good!
Both YMCA facilities and programmes are regularly recognised through industry awards. We’re a pretty big player as well – nationally YMCA is the largest provider of Out of School Care for school-aged children, the largest provider of residential camping facilities, and we run some of the largest sports leagues programmes nationally.
☕🍴 Welcome to Craig and Gail’s Café
Here, everyone is invited to enjoy the same delicious kai and coffee, no matter their circumstances. Operating under a 'contribute what you can' model, you have multiple options when it comes to ordering at our café:
❤️ Pay the full suggested price for your meal.
❤️ Pay more than the suggested price in order to pay it forward for someone else.
❤️ Pay a partial amount of the suggested price.
❤️ Or enjoy a koha meal, if today’s not a day you're able to contribute.
Whatever you can contribute, you're welcome at Craig & Gail's.
🎄 What a beautiful way to wrap up the year with our Wellington Te Aro community! 🎄
We’re thrilled to share this post from Te Pokapū Hapori, the community well-being hub, where a community lunch brought people together in the most heartfelt way. With delicious kai supported by EKTA, lively kōrero, laughter, and even a free raffle, the event truly reflected the spirit of the festive season.
A huge thank you to our incredible partners – Wellington City Council DCM, Te Wāhi Āwhina, and Lyn from Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities for joining and supporting this special occasion. Your collaboration makes such a difference in fostering connection and well-being within our community.
This community initiative perfectly aligns with the World YMCA Vision 2030 pillar of Community Well-being, reminding us how important it is to create opportunities for connection, support, and upliftment.
As we enter the festive season, we’re reminded of the power of togetherness. Warm wishes to everyone for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ❤️
#YMCA#Vision2030#CommunityWellbeing#Collaboration#TePokapūHapori#EKTA#CommunitySpirit#MerryChristmas#HappyNewYear
We wrapped up the year with our Te Aro community in the most beautiful way – with our community centre- Te Pokapū Hapori hosting a free community lunch. It was a truly special afternoon, filled with delicious kai, thanks to the generous support of EKTA, as well as heartfelt kōrero and plenty of laughter. We even had some fun with a free raffle, adding a bit of excitement and joy to the event.
We are grateful to have shared such a memorable time with our wonderful community. Moments like these serve as a beautiful reminder of how fortunate we are to come together, to connect, and to uplift one another. It's in these shared moments of laughter, and support that we truly embrace the spirit of the Christmas season! 🎄
It was also a great chance to connect and catch-up with other organisations we’ve worked with throughout the year- a special thanks to the DCM, Te Wāhi Āwhina crew and Lyn from Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities for joining us.
As we enter the festive season, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all members of our community – may you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ❤️
World YMCA
We wrapped up the year with our Te Aro community in the most beautiful way – with our community centre- Te Pokapū Hapori hosting a free community lunch. It was a truly special afternoon, filled with delicious kai, thanks to the generous support of EKTA, as well as heartfelt kōrero and plenty of laughter. We even had some fun with a free raffle, adding a bit of excitement and joy to the event.
We are grateful to have shared such a memorable time with our wonderful community. Moments like these serve as a beautiful reminder of how fortunate we are to come together, to connect, and to uplift one another. It's in these shared moments of laughter, and support that we truly embrace the spirit of the Christmas season! 🎄
It was also a great chance to connect and catch-up with other organisations we’ve worked with throughout the year- a special thanks to the DCM, Te Wāhi Āwhina crew and Lyn from Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities for joining us.
As we enter the festive season, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all members of our community – may you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ❤️
World YMCA
We’re excited to again be partnering with Urban Development | Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities to manage the community space at their development in Wellington’s Taranaki St and look forward to creating a welcoming environment that fosters connection, support, and a sense of belonging for everyone. This is the beginning of an exciting collaborative journey!
As those of us in the YMCA well know, basketball was born at the YMCA in 1891.
James Naismith, at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Mass., USA, created the game using a soccer ball and two peach baskets to keep students active during the winter. 🏀🍑
World Basketball Day on 21 December is a moment for YMCAs to honour this legacy and share with our communities the incredible story of how our YMCA launched a sport that inspires and connects people everywhere. 🌍
An afternoon of collaboration and care— thank you to Te Wāhi Āwhina, Tū Ora, and our dedicated team at Te Pokapū Hapori for making last month’s community health event at Te Pokapū Hapori a success.
From diabetes screenings to fresh kai, it was inspiring to see so many come together for our community’s well-being. We look forward to continued partnerships that prioritise the needs of our community. The sky’s the limit through collaborative mahi!
Read the full article and learn more about our impact here: https://lnkd.in/gFuWU2JjWellington City Council
Are you passionate about fitness and love helping others achieve their health goals? Join our YMCA team as a Group Exercise Instructor! 💪
Inspire, motivate, and make a difference in the lives of our community members. Apply today to be a part of something meaningful!🌟
https://lnkd.in/dXTcRjKA#YMCAJobs#FitnessInstructor#MakeADifference
Yesterday, we hosted an engagement event with Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities and residents of the new Hindmarsh housing development in Johnsonville. It was a fantastic opportunity to introduce ourselves, connect with the community, and get to know some of the whānau who now call this place home.
The day was filled with whakawhanaungatanga, meaningful kōrero about the activities and facilities that would best serve their needs, and, of course, some shared kai. The tamariki enjoyed toys and outdoor activities, adding plenty of laughter and energy to the event.
We’re excited to again be partnering with Kāinga Ora to manage the community space at their Hindmarsh development and look forward to creating a welcoming environment that fosters connection, support, and a sense of belonging for everyone. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey!
#Y#Home#CommunityPartnerships#WhānauFirst#StrongCommunities#HousingSupport#KāingaOra#ConnectingCommunities#Whakawhanaungatanga#SharedKai#Tamarikifun#JohnsonvilleCommunity#BuildingBelonging
We are proud to partner with Palmerston North City Council, Y Central, Sport Manawatū, and NZ Police to deliver ‘Kick for the Seagulls’ to a group of 10 rangatahi (young people) for the first time in Palmerston North 📚🤝 The 17-week programme created by Sir Graham Lowe teaches Level 2 literacy and numeracy skills through the language of sport 🏉 Find out more: https://bit.ly/40kKqoq
This Sunday we begin the annual YMCA-YWCA World Week of Prayer. From 10-16 November, we'll focus on "Moving with Faith through the Elements". 🔥💧
Dori Gorman, Association Chaplain for YMCA of Middle Tennessee, USA, shares insights on this theme and how it can be applied in our daily lives. 🙏
👉 Learn more and download the booklet: https://bit.ly/47QSYoC
