Lunch time meeting - 1pm - Gareth Allenby from the YMCA in Glenrothes to give us a talk.

On Thursday 2^nd December 2021 President Brian Johnson. welcomed 12 Club Rotarians, and guest speakers Gareth Allenby and Matthew Ritchie to this lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

There were7 apologies for nonattendance.

Prior to the meeting President Brian presented a cheque for £300 to help the YMCA with their ongoing projects leading up to Christmas food parcels which include toiletries.

Geoff Sampson advised those present that our club had also given financial support of £300 each to Leslie Community Pantry, Fife Women’s Aid, Fife Gingerbread, Muirhead Outreach to help them with their Christmas appeals some of which can also receive matching support grants from various groups if donations were made on a specific day..

This week our speakers were Gareth Allenby, Service Manager and Matthew Ritchie from the YMCA Glenrothes. YMCA Glenrothes is a non-profit organisation located in North St, Glenrothes, is an independent local charity which is governed by local volunteers from Fife and affiliated to the worldwide YMCA movement. The charity works with many other organisations in Fife as well as YMCAs in Scotland, supports young people facing homelessness; education in relation to drugs and alcohol; youth volunteering; youth groups; music groups and events. Y Academy project outcomes aim to improve people’s confidence and sense of purpose, improve their physical and mental health and encourage participation within the local Glenrothes community. The long-term goal of the Y Academy is to increase stability for individuals affected by homelessness and to help people maintain their future tenancies. The Y Academy is offered to individuals of any age, gender and background who are resident within the Y Supported Accommodation and Community Flats. The programme runs two days each week on a six-week cycle and offers various activities targeted around the project outcomes. Activities include Outdoor Education, Physical Activities, Cooking, Goal Setting and Group Work Sessions aimed at improving tenancy management skills. Already the Y Academy has made a significant impact on the individuals involved Y Music was launched in August 2017 and has Since then the project has provided the opportunity for young people to take part in free music making activities such as 1-1 instrument tuition, access to band rehearsal spaces and music workshops. These are all delivered with the assistance of their passionate and dedicated professional tutors. Having these activities openly available to the public has also created a social hub for young musicians to meet and play together in an inclusive and safe environment. Y Music also provides music education in high schools, providing 1-1 music lessons to students who are excluded or unable to take part in mainstream classes. The YMCA are proud to announce that throughout 2019-2020 the Y Music Project has helped over 200 young people develop their musical abilities and recognise their potential – their busiest year to date! Today Y Supported Accommodation (YSA) continues to assist over 250 homeless individuals throughout Fife who require accommodation and support. YSA has of two hostels, one male, and one female. The service also manages a range of supported accommodation throughout Glenrothes and neighbouring towns. 60 service users are supported any one time, with a large percentage of those aged 16-24-years old. Staff work to decrease the risk of the ‘revolving door of homelessness’. Support is provided to help increase independent living and tenancy management skills. Without the right type of support the chances of failure and abandonment are increased for many. A programme of support is provided in areas such as; Managing on a low budget, Preventing and dealing with benefit sanctions, Income maximisation techniques, Reducing fuel poverty, Conflict resolution, Sustaining temporary accommodation & future tenancy, How to be a good neighbour, The YMCA has found that tenancy support can be lacking for individuals who are allocated tenancies throughout Fife. These hurdles are often overwhelming.  Without the right type of support the chances of failure and abandonment are increased for many tenants. The issue of homelessness in Fife by renovating empty properties and letting these to people who have experienced homelessness. The project, which is now in its fourth year and is supported and funded by The Nationwide Foundation, Resilient Scotland and Land Aid. To date we have refurbished 5 properties, with a ten-year property refurbishment plan in place. YMCA Glenrothes is also proud to announce that the project won the very first People’s Choice award at the 2018 Scottish Empty Homes Partnership annual conference.  This conference celebrates work across the country, bringing the nation’s 37,000 empty homes back into use. YMCA Glenrothes has managed a range of supported accommodation in Glenrothes and neighbouring villages for many years. The type of accommodation on offer suits people at various stages of their lives, so someone can either share in a hostel, live with one or two other people in a supported flat, all prior to moving into their own tenancy in the community. In the past people with higher complex needs had been placed in Shared Accommodation Partnership (SAP) Flats which are owned by Fife Council.  Now, as a result of a pilot that they trialled, those with higher support needs are accommodated first within the hostels where they can be fully supported.  Next YMCA will match people and then support them individually and together in a SAP flat. This YMCA system enables people to transfer more readily to an area of their choice. This sensitive approach has been recognised by the Homeless and Housing Public Social Partnership (PSP) Fife. Just over a year ago, the PSP reviewed its own system of allocating flat spaces and adopted some YMCA recommendations.  This system of matching and support has benefited many SAP residents.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Ewen Macdonald.

This coming week Thursday 9th December 2021 is a lunch time ZOOM meeting for a 1pm start which will be a business meeting with fellowship. The week after 16^th December will be our Christmas lunch to be held at the Gilvenbank Hotel commencing 12.30pm