YMCA Barnsley

19/10/2026

🌯👩‍🍳 Cooking up a storm at our SEND Youth Club! 👨‍🍳🌯

Our young people enjoyed getting hands-on in the kitchen, preparing and cooking their own delicious fajitas before sitting down together to enjoy what they had made! 😋

It was a great opportunity to develop cooking skills, build confidence, work together and enjoy some tasty food along the way! 🌶️🫑

💚 Want to join our SEND Youth Club?

Our club provides a fun, welcoming and supportive environment where young people can try new activities, make friends and develop new skills.

📢 Our SEND Youth Club is funded through Short Breaks. To find out more about the club, eligibility and how to access sessions, please visit the YMCA Barnsley website.

18/10/2026

Our recently refurbished full-size sports hall is now available to hire in the heart of Barnsley at Blucher Street — just 5 minutes from Junction 37 of the M1.
Perfect for:
✅ Basketball
✅ Volleyball
✅ Badminton
✅ Pickleball
✅ 5-a-side Football
Facilities include:
✔ Full court markings
✔ Changing rooms & shower facilities
✔ Disabled access
✔ Community hall with fully equipped kitchen
✔ WiFi
🕘 Available:
Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm
Weekends available too!
And there’s an added bonus — every booking helps support opportunities for children and young people in Barnsley. ❤️
📍 Town centre location – Blucher Street, Barnsley
Get in touch today to book your space or find out more!

17/10/2026

16/10/2026

Our Fabulous FREE October Half-Term Holiday activities are now available to book.

https://www.ymcabarnsley.org.uk/activities/

15/10/2026

🎃👻 Little Ys Halloween Fun! 👻🎃
Our Little Ys have been getting creative making their very own pumpkin masks! 🎨🧡 Lots of spooky fun, creativity and Halloween smiles! 🎃🕸️
We think they all look fang-tastic! 👀

15/10/2026

As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week , we invited Rachael Ferrington to our Y Stay In youth club last night. Rachael is Barnsley's Hate Crime Officer for South Yorkshire Police and has the enviable super power of retaining and recalling data, stats and information on her specialist area of work at the drop of a hat. Members had discussed and prepped lots of questions for Rachael, it must have felt like Mastermind as she sat in the 'hot seat'. Here's just a couple of questions and answers of the many. HUGE thanks to Rachael for her visit and agreeing to go under the spotlight 👍
INTERESTING FACT: You can report a hate crime anonymously via Crime Stoppers 24/7 - 0800 555 111

Barnsley Council Central Area Team Barnsley Council North East Area Team YMCA England & Wales

15/10/2026

We are at Barnsley Metrodome today with Barnsley SEND Local Offer

Come on down and see and chat about what we have to offer. 🙂

12/10/2026

🦖😂 How much fun can you have on dinosaur space hoppers? 🦕💨

Turns out… LOTS! 🤣 Racing, bouncing and plenty of laughter all round! Who knew dinosaurs could be this much fun? 🦖💚

09/10/2026

With World Mental Health Day happening tomorrow, our youth sessions focused on this year's powerful theme: "Lived experiences heard, real voices, real change."

We created a safe space, where young people could share their authentic stories, find focus, and let go of the worries, with creativity and team work.

Our voices matter, our experiences shape us, and sometimes, we just need to slide, scrunch, and sky-rocket our stresses away together. 🫶
Barnsley Council North Area Team
Barnsley Council Central Area Team
YMCA England & Wales

06/10/2026

Celebrating Outstanding Achievement

Everyone at YMCA Barnsley is incredibly proud to celebrate Joanne King, who has successfully completed her BA (Hons) Youth Work degree with First Class Honours with Distinction as part of the first cohort of Youth Work Degree Apprenticeships at Leeds Beckett University.

Adding to this remarkable achievement, Jo has also been awarded the Leeds Beckett University, Deans Award, for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Youth and Community Work.’ This prestigious award recognises Jo's dedication, professionalism and contribution to youth work.

This award reflects far more than academic success. It acknowledges Jo's passion for youth work, her commitment to young people, and her determination to continually develop her practice. Throughout her studies, she has consistently demonstrated the values, skills and professionalism that are at the heart of youth work.

As one of the first youth workers to qualify through this apprenticeship route, Jo's success highlights the value of investing in the professional development of youth workers and the positive impact this can have for young people, communities and the sector as a whole.

This is an achievement that truly deserves recognition. We are delighted to have supported Jo on her journey and proud to see her hard work, commitment, and impact acknowledged through both her academic success and this prestigious award.

Congratulations, Jo. This recognition is thoroughly deserved, and we look forward to seeing the continued positive impact you will make in the lives of children and young people through your youth work.