Archive News from 2009   Queen honours ex-YMCA chief with MBE 2009: Former YMCA Norfolk chief executive, John Drake, has received an MBE for services to young people in Norwich and Norfolk in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list. More ... Churches' festive gifts for YMCA residents 2009: A group of Norfolk churches showered YMCA Norfolk Faith Development officer Alexis Lloyd with gifts of toiletries and cash for YMCA residents during a recent visit to their services. More ... Solicitor Richard is new YMCA Norfolk chair 2009: YMCA Norfolk has appointed West Norfolk Law Society president Richard Pennington as the new chairman for its board of trustees to replace outgoing chair David Ingham. More ... Church leaders learn how to access funding 2009: The Norwich City board room at Carrow Road was the setting for Christian leaders to learn how to translate the language of Government and access funding, thanks to YMCA Norfolk. More ... Numbers of Norwich rough sleepers increases 2009: Norwich has almost as many homeless rough sleepers on its streets as Manchester or Liverpool according to the latest official government statistics, but YMCA Norfolk has sounded a note of caution about the figures. More ... New Norwich MP backs work of YMCA Norfolk 2009: New Norwich North Conservative MP, Chloe Smith, has been on a fact-finding visit to YMCA Norfolk to meet senior staff and residents and has agreed to back the Christian charity in its work by becoming a patron. More ... Summer of murals and drama for pupils A group of Norwich youngsters have been having such a good time over the summer, that they have spent the whole six weeks at their school – the Open Academy at Heartsease. More ... YMCA buys a 'family home' in King's Lynn 2009: The completed purchase of a large family home in King’s Lynn has been celebrated with a barbecue. But this is no ordinary house, as it has had no fewer than 280 young people call it home over the last 11 years. More ... Tim takes over as new YMCA Norfolk chief 2009: He has helped homeless people in the most deprived parts of London and set up a church which has attracted hundreds of young people, and now Tim Sweeting is turning his hand to helping vulnerable youngsters in Norfolk. More ... John honoured for 30 years at YMCA Norfolk 2009: YMCA Norfolk Chief Executive, John Drake, who is handing over the reins to his successor Tim Sweeting, has been hailed by civic leaders for his great contribution to the Christian organization over the last 30 years. More ... Prince gives royal approval to Norwich YMCA 2009: HRH the Duke of Edinburgh gave the royal seal of approval to the £2.9m Norwich Central YMCA redevelopment when he visited the accommodation facility on Wednesday June 24. More ... YMCA Norfolk names new chief executive 2009: YMCA Norfolk has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer to take over from John Drake who is stepping down after completing 30 years of distinguished service in July. More ... Workshop was aimed at faith communities 2009: Interpreting the Language of Government was the subject under discussion at a workshop funded by Faith Action and jointly sponsored by YMCA Norfolk on March 26. More ... Minister meets with Norwich Christian charities 2009: Representatives of Norwich Christian social action charities have met with government minister Sadiq Khan MP at the Central Norwich YMCA to talk with him about engaging faith communities in the delivery of public services. More ... YMCA launches new partnership in Breckland 2009: A breakfast event hosted by Breckland Council on February 23 celebrated the launch of YMCA Norfolk’s work in Breckland. The YMCA team will be moving into offices in Tanner Street, Thetford. More ... Norfolk real lives book marks action week 2009: To mark Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2009, YMCA Norfolk has published a second book of short true life stories about some of the amazing people whose lives have been touched by an encounter with it. More ... REAL LIFE: A traumatic event for Grace YMCA Norfolk schools worker, Rachel Chwaszcza, takes a collaborative approach to tackling the issue of youth homelessness. This includes taking lessons and offering one-on-one support sessions for vulnerable students. More ... REAL LIFE: Pushing back the boundaries Tom is a very defiant young man who feels he is no good. YMCA Norfolk Schools Key Worker, Rebecca Wass, helped him to make the sometimes difficult transition between primary school and high school. More ... REAL LIFE: 'I can't do anything' At almost eight years old, Rory couldn't write, read or even draw. Any work his teachers tried to give him, even simple worksheets, reduced him to tears. More ... New Central Norwich YMCA opens its doors 2009: The new £2.9 million Central Norwich YMCA opened its doors to residents for the first time on January 5. More ... Bishop given keys to new central Norwich YMCA 2009: YMCA Norfolk has received the keys to the new £2.9m Norwich Central YMCA, which will provide accommodation and assessment facilities for 34 young homeless men and, for the first time in Norwich, women. More ...