Ex-Army chief becomes new YMCA Norfolk president
 Former head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, was made president of YMCA Norfolk last night (October 18), taking over from Richard Jarrold, with a pledge to Serve to Lead.
Richard Jarrold was awarded the highest honour possible from YMCA England, personally presented by its national chief executive Ian Green - The Order of the Red Triangle - at last night’s AGM of YMCA Norfolk, held at the Norwich Cathedral Hostry.
Richard stood down after 40 years of service to the YMCA, saying: “I care for the YMCA and the people it serves. It has been a privilege.”
Former chair, David Ingham, paid tribute to Richard, saying: “Richard has been of immense service to YMCA Norfolk over 40 years. It has been full-on, totally committed service for the whole time, motivated by his personal Christian faith.”
Taking over as president, Sir Richard Dannatt said: “The motto of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, which I attended some years ago is “Serve to Lead”. Serving an organization like the YMCA in order to lead others to a better opportunity in life is, I think, really important. We always say look for a role model in leadership and the person who was the most obvious servant, who set out to lead, was Jesus Christ who did the most menial task in washing his disciples’ feet, thereby earning the right to lead them.
“The principals which underlie the Christian faith are the guiding principles of the YMCA and many of us believe that those are the right set of principals on which to base one’s own life.
“Young people deserve a chance, especially those who through no fault of their own have had a difficult start in life. They need guidance and opportunity to make the most of themselves and that is what the YMCA does.”
One of Richard’s first acts as YMCA Norfolk president will be to spend a night sleeping rough in Norwich city centre on October 30, along with Norfolk High Sheriff Charles Barratt and Judge Phillip Curl, to raise money for the YMCA, along with other local charities.
YMCA Norfolk chief executive, Tim Sweeting, told his first AGM that the last year had been one of immense change within the organization: “We have a new chief executive, a new chair, a new £4.4m building and a £1m appeal fund. We have a new vision and strategy and have reorganized our staff structure to deliver it.
“We have chosen three words to sum up our new strategy – belong, contribute and thrive – these words encapsulate our aspirations for the thousands of young people we impact through our housing and schools work.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter in the work of YMCA Norfolk, which is adapting to meet the needs of young people in the three areas of housing, youth work and health and well-being.”
Former YMCA chair, David Ingham, also stood down from the board at the AGM and was given a presentation by two young men who thanked him on behalf of all the young people that have been helped by his service.
Current chair, Richard Pennington, said: “I have been deeply impressed and challenged by the commitment that David has shown to the work of YMCA Norfolk, which shines out of his own deep-seated Christian commitment.”
Pictured above are new YMCA Norfolk president, Sir Richard Dannatt (left) and outgoing president, Richard Jarrold with his Order of the Red Triangle.
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