80% of our YMCAs work in communities with the highest levels of social, economic, health and education needs.  Working in the heart of  communities, YMCA supports children,  young people and their families to achieve their fullest potential

We work alongside partners in social work, other voluntary organisations, police, education and local churches. Much of our work is delivered by volunteers and each local YMCA is governed by local people who make up the Board of Trustees.

YMCA is a federated model with 28 locally autonomous YMCAs working across Scotland and affiliating to YMCA Scotland. This structure enables every YMCA to respond to the needs of their local communities, and puts local people at the heart of local YMCA decision making and governance.

Our Global YMCA vision is a world where every person lives in harmony with self, with society and with creation.

Our YMCA Scotland mission is to empower young people and communities to build a just, sustainable, equitable and inclusive Scotland, where every person can thrive in body, mind and spirit.

YMCA is an inclusive Christian youth organisation, open to people of all faiths and none and we work to transform the lives of children and young people, empowering them to create positive change in their lives and communities. We work with all children and young people in a non-judgemental and supportive manner.

Today, we provide opportunities for individuals to encounter the Christian faith through experiencing Christian values as embodied in our work.

Founded in 1844 in London, the YMCA has grown to become a global youth work organisation operating in 119 countries reaching 58 million people. From its inception in Scotland, it spread rapidly with 62 associations established by 1876. Throughout the war years, YMCA became well known for supporting families and those returning home from the front. In addition, the British movement ran over 10,000 centres offering comfort, postal services and support to soldiers in the trenches during WW1.

You can find details of our most recent publications on this page.  For archive materials please contact info@ymca.scot

Here are two films from our local YMCAs that show some of our work with young people.

Kirkcaldy YMCA film

YMCA Tayside film

On 16^th March 2021, The Scottish Parliament passed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. Find out more on what this means at YMCA Scotland, and to access a free training resource, use the button below.