This week, YMCA celebrates its 175th anniversary. On 6 June 1844, 22 year-old draper George Williams joined 11 friends to organise the first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets of London. We will be celebrating this monumental year with several events, not just in London where we started, but all over the country.
YMCA 175 Birthday Party
As YMCA turns 175 we are encouraging all our shops to host a YMCA Birthday Party. Pop into your local shop and help us celebrate our big anniversary!
Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving
A special service took place on Founder’s Day at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square, London. The service will take place between 2.30- 3.30pm on 6 June and was open to the general public.
To celebrate YMCA’s 175 anniversary, World YMCA challenges you to volunteer 175 minutes of your time to better your community. Together we aim to achieve 1.75 million minutes #YMCAChallenge
Date: 8 June
YMCA175
Gather together in the city where YMCA began for four dynamic days. Young leaders from around the world will share their vision and personal experiences of social transformation to shape a positive and sustainable future. (Only open to staff, volunteers, young people with connections to YMCA.) Register and find out more.
Dates: 4-8 August
