22/23

Haututanga

Leadership Report

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2023 Annual Report for Y Central. It has been a mixed year for the organisation with the current economic environment having an impact on both the communities we serve and the performance of the organisation. Regardless, the team have worked tirelessly with further advancement achieved strategically, more specifically increasing our presence in Wellington city. We have put a lot of energy into our systems and procedures, as well as the continual development of our workforce.

This organisation is about people first and foremost. The people involved with the Y as participants, volunteers or staff are central to our ability to ride the highs and lows of any given year. As we look forward to 2024 and beyond, We want to thank our board, staff, volunteers and supporters for their continued dedication and commitment to the wonderful work the Y does in the communities we serve.

Our challenges in the year ahead are to continue to strengthen and develop our core programmes, particularly children’s programmes, recreation and housing while at the same time continuing the development of our staff and volunteers.

My thanks to all those who support the Y in all of our activities, as we continue to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities through investing in the next generation.

Brendan Owens

Y Central

Chief Executive Officer

Marina Cook

Y Central

Board Chairperson

Eileen Basher

Greater Wellington

Trust Chairperson

Murray Corps

Combined Whanganui / Palmerston North

Trust Chairperson

Board Appreciation

Our board give their time freely and generously to support the organization and CEO to make sound decisions that

further our mission and purpose and protect our assets for generations to come. Thank you all for your commitment and dedication to the cause.

Staff & Volunteers

The staff and volunteers of the Y are the lifeblood of this organisation and they serve our participants and customers daily and are our point of difference: they represent what we are about, where we have come from, and where we are heading.

Trust Performance

The Trust continues to perform well with a healthy surplus and includes significant investment back into our assets. The YMCA of Greater Wellington Charitable Trust will over time give Y Central further leverage to deliver relevant and financially viable community programmes to the people of the Region, securing a healthy future of the Y movement.

Marketing Communications

Our brand is strong. We can achieve greater external understanding of the Y value and brand through unified positioning nationally.

Operational Success

Our organisation continues to deliver quality programmes and services. With a strong and viable business, we can deliver enhanced value to our members and programme participants.

Highlights

• Evolution of good impact measurement data proving the difference we make to people's lives
• Strengthened presence in Wellington City
• Partnership agreement in place with Kainga Ora
  
• Despite the cost of living challenges, the business has been steady with some standout performers continuing their year-on-year growth
  
• Continual growth in acquisitions of Y-Kids/OSCAR locations
  
• Forward bookings at both Camps remain strong
  
• The successful shift in the Fitness Operating Model has helped enhance the outreach work in the community
  
• Continued strong performance with compliance and regulations
  

Challenges

• Impact of COVID lingers
  
• The continual upkeep of our two assets does absorb precious resource
  
• The ever-increasing ‘cost’ of compliance to legislation and contractual requirements
  
• Cost of living challenges and the impact on business
  
• Relevance Nationally
  

Celebrating ‘one of the greats’

Barry Hislop, Y Central board member who has spent his life helping others through The Y.

“

When I lost my leg, it was unbelievable what the people of the Y did. You could never replace the gift of love and care that happened there – that’s the real guts of what the Y is about.

Barry started his career in the Royal New Zealand Navy and graduated as a physical education and recreational trainer before leaving in 1972 to take up his first civilian post as physical director at the North Shore YMCA in Auckland.

“It was an induction into hell almost,” he says, laughing. “I ran school gymnastics, so I had to tow a trailer full of gym gear to every school from Devenport, Murrays Bay to Birkenhead. The reduction of salary and a typical working day over 12 hours was an awakening, but there was unbelievable team of people to work alongside. We set up new programmes, organised camps and raised money to open the new YMCA Akoranga Drive Recreation Centre. At the time it was one of the most modern facilities built in New Zealand.”

After a great deal of personal achievements and success in his role at North Shore, Barry’s former boss and colleague came knocking. Maurie Rendall, a former Air Force Wing Commander who was the director of the Combined Services School of Physical Education and Barry’s mentor, who was the CEO of the Auckland YMCA. He wanted Barry on board to help launch initiatives like the Businessmen’s Fitness Centre.

“A difficult decision I said, ‘ I didn’t want to leave North Shore, the community and board were great support’. But then he said there was a number of benefits and opportunities including a salary increase.

An unbelievable team of people

The best job in the world

Together, the team under Maurie transformed the tired Auckland centre into a modern complex, and Barry started a learning journey to apply the concepts of human performance tests and measures. That journey started in the RNZN which stimulated his lifelong work in sports performance as a fitness consultant, athlete life advisor and coach developer working with a number of national and international sport teams and their athletes. Teams, including the national squash, badminton, rugby league, athletics, cycling, kayaking, rowing, and football teams, and including a stint with the All Blacks in 1977.

With help from Bill Henwood, and leveraging off the expertise of ultrarunner Max Telford, Barry also provided expert guidance in the setup of the Y Marathon club. Barry is a life member, this club is still going strong after 46 years. The club followed the principles set from the fitness centre programmes which adopted an inclusive ‘walk-walk-run’ philosophy that proved so encouraging and successful that Barry completed a study which has been a reference at industry national conferences.

During his time in Auckland, he also was part of a team that worked to raise money to rebuild the accommodation at the famous Camp Adair site in Hunua. Barry had the job of convincing donors to support replacing the run-down old huts with new log cabins (which are still in use today). Although he can’t recall anything he said in his speech, he does remember it went down well with the crowd, which included a minor royal: “The royalty fella said it was unbelievable and handed me a check for $85,000. I ran up the road in my suit – people must have thought I was a nutter.”

“

The royalty fella said it was unbelievable and handed me a check for $85,000. I ran up the road in my suit – people must have thought I was a nutter.

An outpouring of love and care

After 10 years at “the best job in the world, to be honest”, family commitments led Barry to move to Masterton, where he became CEO of YMCA Masterton, successfully leading the transition into a brand-new facility. Then he became CEO of the Upper Hutt YMCA, where he and his team turned an old supermarket into a new fitness and community centre.

It was during his tenure in Upper Hutt that a vehicle collision resulted in Barry losing a leg – and he was back teaching aerobics, on crutches, just a few weeks later. He says the support from the people around him was phenomenal:

“When I lost my leg, it was unbelievable what the people of the Y did. You could never replace the gift of love and care that happened there – that’s the real guts of what the Y is about.”

In more recent years, Barry became a staff member of the Regional Sport Trust – Sport Wellington region where as general manager he directed the regional physical activity strategies of the Greater Wellington region, managed a coaching centre, and set up offices throughout the Wellington area. He also graduated as an athlete life advisor for high-performance sport working with many sports and athletes at Olympic and Paralympic level. Extending his coaching career to the NZ Wheel Blacks at the Paralympic and world championship competitions. The next stage of employment was as an injury prevention consultant for ACC. All these roles aligned to the Y in values and principles.

A positive influence across the generations

Around 10 years ago, he became a board member of Y Central, helping guide the organisation while maintaining his work as a physical education consultant including athlete life advisor for High Performance Sport New Zealand, working with Olympians and Paralympians. He has coached thousands of coaches and published papers on the science of sports performance. He conducts and facilitates leadership training at colleges, injury prevention work for seniors through ACC, and guides physical education programmes for primary schools. His positive influence is felt across the generations in New Zealand sport and recreation.

The real success is the people you’ve influenced who are still living the game and the thousands of friends you’ve made,” he says. “People still sometimes come up to me and say, ‘My mum said you taught her gymnastics’, and the mum is in her sixties. I was just glad to be part of their journey.

The spirit of the Y: a hub for wellbeing

Now aged 77, Barry is stepping back from his board role with Y Central, but he has no plans to slow down. His life has been guided by his personal motto: “Bring goodness and respect. Expect to do my very best with a good attitude. I have talent and time to gift.” A belief in my “Why”

When you know your ‘knowledge, skills and attitude’ or KSA, Barry believes you can achieve more and be more productive; he wants to keep passing this knowledge onto the next generation of active Kiwis. He is passionate about encouraging people to live active, healthy lives through positive support and care.

“The history of the Y extends throughout the world in towns, communities and even to the battle fields in that it was always a hub to go to for respite and friendship, where you could always find tea and a welcoming face. It was a place that cared about your wellbeing. That’s the spirit I always refer back to – I never thought about working at the Y as just a job. It’s kind of like a calling.”

Accommodation

@ The Y

Play is all about building relationships. It centres around

Our Tākaro Trailer supported

All the benefits of a thriving

community, under one roof

Transforming housing from ‘bricks and mortar’ into ‘homes’ for tenants through the provision of mana enhancing programmes and services

Rooms are in very hot demand; we could fill another building! The location, the price and the support network mean that people rarely leave.

One of the primary contributors to the escalating cost of living in New Zealand is the exorbitant increase in rent prices. The demand for rental properties has outpaced supply, leading to astronomical rent hikes, making it increasingly challenging for individuals and families to secure affordable housing. Moreover, the burden falls disproportionately on vulnerable populations, particularly those who; for reasons that are often outside their control, find themselves needing a roof over their head. For this reason social housing is a vital part of any community, providing safe accommodation for people needing an affordable short or long term home. But affordability is not the only primary need for people in social housing situations, with many in these environments living on their own, recent studies also show that the negative effects of loneliness, isolation and lack of connection to others is a prevalent and increasing issue.

The Y Central believes that connection to others is vital to those who live alone and that social housing should go much further than being affordable, by providing opportunities for creating positive experiences and social connections to enrich the lives of every resident. The Y Central’s Pilmuir Hostel is committed to creating social housing that is not only safe, cheap and clean, but also a place where people can connect and contribute. They also work hard to ensure their accommodation is diverse and welcoming for everyone who lives and stays there.

Daily walks, table tennis tournaments and social evenings. The Y Hostel in Lower Hutt is managed by Sheryl Brotherson, who runs a programme designed to bring residents together and encourage them to interact. Sheryl and the team create a sense of whanaungatanga (kinship and connection), through the operation of the building and the events they organise.

Shared spaces like the TV lounge and wellbeing room allow for mingling, while quarterly gatherings bring everyone together for a meal of fish and chips, and maybe some karaoke. There are table tennis tournaments and a daily walk at 11am which helps maintain the friendly atmosphere and gets everyone chatting.

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Sheryl says. “Around 70 percent of our residents are working full-time, including a lot of nurses who work at the hospital, which is right next door. They’re from all over the place, especially India and the Philippines, and they like to stay somewhere affordable so they can send money home. Other people are truck drivers or uber drivers, then we have some people who are retired or not currently working.”

One of those people who is not currently working is Kevin Mara, a retiree in his seventies who has been a resident for 15 years. He swims daily and joins in with Y activities. He likes his room and appreciates the large kitchen and onsite laundry facilities; “All these little things are quite important to me.”

Kevin is one of several residents who have been at the Y Hostel for many years, because they appreciate the outstanding lifestyle they can enjoy thanks to the affordable price, central location and the sense of community.

Making people like Kevin feel welcome, and ensuring residents don’t need to be lonely, are key tenets of the Y social housing ethos. Sheryl hopes to see more Y social housing options available in future, to give people the kind of support they need.

“Rooms are in very hot demand; we could fill another building! The location, the price and the support network mean that people rarely leave, so it would be great to have more facilities like this available.”

Kaitoke & Raukawa Camps

Total Bed Nights

Developing Young People

“I was concerned before we arrived as this is the youngest group I have ever brought to camp and for some their very first camp

experience and their very first night away

from home. They all loved it and I know they have grown so much from the experience. Our parents who came

along were amazed at how much fun

they had and how the children 'grew'

from the experience - thanks so much

Y Kaitoke Outdoor Education Centre!”

Carterton School

14,526

Total Participations

Youth Services

Rangatahi Ora

Rangatahi Ora aims to improve the lives of vulnerable and disengaged youth involved in moderate risk offending. It is a 20-week programme utilizing positive youth development to help reduce recidivism.

young people engaged

Tū Motu empowers youth in our community by providing a framework and space that fosters youth led opportunities to put on events, activities, workshops, volunteering, work experience that engages with youth, families and the wider community.

The Impact of Camp For Kiwi Kids

More than just an adventure,

but life-changing experiences.

Every child should experience camp.

In the diverse landscapes of Aotearoa, New Zealand, the profound transformation that unfolds in the lives of countless young participants every year is a testament to the enduring value of outdoor camps. For local children and teenagers, camps with The Y broaden horizons, nurture independence, and most importantly, offer an unforgettable experience. For Y Central, the delivery of camps is hard work with high maintenance & staffing costs, but is ultimately driven by a simple mission – ‘Every child should experience camp’. In 2023 camps run at both Kaitoke Outdoor Education Centre and Raukawa Adventure Centre facilitated hundreds of schools in delivering safe, developmental outdoor experiences through the quintessential Kiwi tradition of 'school camp.'

For The Y, this mission, while seemingly straightforward, is imbued with depth, significance, and intricacy. Core memories are forged at camp– memories that shape the hearts and minds of young individuals. Camps are meticulously designed to be memorable through a fusion of rich experiences that give opportunities for learning, whether it pertains to self-discovery, understanding others, or recognizing the interconnectedness of the world. All of this unfolds in an outdoor environment that magnifies the impact of these experiences.

Indeed, there is no substitute for the real-life experiences encountered at camp.

What makes these experiences even more transformative is the opportunity to undertake them with peers, away from the perceived safety that home, parents and routine provides. The absence of parental guidance adds a unique dimension to moments of reflection and adversity, rendering them fundamental and sometimes transcendent in a young person's life.

Parents understandably grapple with concerns about what they cannot control, leading them to seek maximum protection for their children in today's world. However, outdoor education professionals have always balanced the benefits of these experiences with the inherent risks. Teams in this field are not only highly qualified but also deeply passionate about ensuring that every young person has a fantastic time at camp. There is little doubt that camp provides a unique set of opportunities for learning, fun, friendship, and overall well-being.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought immense change to society, particularly to kids, many of whom missed out on experiencing camp due to lockdowns. Recognizing the importance of outdoor camp experiences more than ever before, now is the time for them to play their most significant role ever. In times of chaos and change, experiences that create a sense of 'business as usual' and enhance young people's ability to cope with challenges are invaluable.

These experiences provide young people with the skills and resilience needed to navigate an ever-changing world while fostering unity and a sense of belonging in the 'team of 5 million.' The transformative power of outdoor camps is an essential part of New Zealand's rich educational tapestry, shaping the lives of the younger generation.

13,000

In keeping with Sport New Zealand’s Physical Literacy approach, Play should be led by tamariki and rangatahi.

Our Play trailer supports this - by

simply bringing the equipment

to kids, particularly

those in higher deprivation areas,

we lower the barrier to entry for

play to kids who need it.

Play is integral to developing a sense of belonging and strengthening relationships, especially familial bonds and close friendships.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding children & Young People

Offering safe spaces for kids to enjoy being kids is one of our greatest priveleges.

“

“It helps that The Y practice what they preach when it comes to their core values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Caring.

In the world of community services, the responsibility of ensuring safety, especially for children and young people, is paramount. The Y takes this responsibility to heart, ensuring that at every level of the organisation, Safeguarding is woven into their core identity. From its Board of Directors down to its volunteers, there is a cohesive effort to create and maintain an environment where everyone acts in the best interests of not only children and young people but also its staff, vulnerable adults, and the communities they work in as a whole.

Annually, thousands of children and young people immerse themselves in a variety of programmes and services offered by The Y. With programmes spanning a wide variety of categories including Out of School Programming, Early Childhood Education, Health and Fitness, Sport and Recreation, Youth Programmes, Affordable Accommodation, and Outdoor Education, Y Central has a sizeable impact within their communities, and specifically, the people with whom they engage daily. This makes their commitment to Safeguarding no small feat. In fact, Y Central employ a permanent Safeguarding Advisor; Amy Moreland, to ensure that Y Central’s policies are in line with best practice, which often means that their policies go above and beyond what is required under current legislation.“It’s my job to work alongside staff to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and support needed for a safeguarding culture within the organisation.”

And for a values focused organisation like The Y, Amy says safeguarding comes naturally. “It helps that The Y practice what they preach when it comes to their core values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Caring. Whereas other organisations may be more focused on profit or streamlined processes – The Y really cares about; and has respect for all who come into contact with us, we take our responsibility to our communities seriously and we’re happy to have the honest conversations with ourselves about where we want to be, particularly as a safe organisation.”

Amy, whose been with The Y for 20 years has vast experience working with children, qualifications in child protection, and loves working alongside managers and programme coordinators, training staff and advising senior leadership to ensure that Safeguarding is a core part of the Y’s culture.

Everyone associated with The Y – all employees, volunteers, the Board of Directors, student placements and consultants are expected to have a base level of child protection training – even if they aren’t directly working with children. This, says Amy, “helps cultivate and maintain a safeguarding culture. One that is not only understood and endorsed, but actively executed by everyone associated with Y Central’s services and programmes.” This enthusiasm extends beyond training, with Y Central actively celebrating NZ Child Safeguarding Week in September. As part of this week, the Y launched a Safeguarding Card for staff, and a series of badges for all tamariki in Y Central Afterschool programmes, which were designed by the kids themselves through a colouring competition. “I wanted to celebrate a great cause that’s raising awareness of Child Safeguarding and have a bit of fun with it. The Y cards are something that staff can keep on them, to remind them of how Y Leaders keep our tamariki safe, and the badges were a really great way to engage the kids, while also learning themselves about ensuring their own safety.

The Y’s dedication to safeguarding is not just in its policies but its everyday actions, making it a benchmark in creating safe, nurturing environments. Their door is always open for communication, fostering a community where everyone feels secure, respected, and protected.

Upper Hutt Gym

JumpStart

& CanMove

Our Upper Hutt Gym offers ‘targeted health programmes that provide fitness classes, health plans and support for those with serious conditions, CanMove is an exercise and peer support course for those affected by cancer and Jumpstart is a 5-week programme aimed at improving the health & well-being of people at risk of developing diabetes or who have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

O Tatau

Our People

Board of Directors

Marina Cook - Chair from Dec 2022

Barry Hislop

Eileen Basher

Christopher Russell

Murray Corps

Richard Lloyd

Nick Evans (Appointed Feb 2023)

Sam Anderson (Appointed June 2023)

Trustees

Greater Wellington Trust

Marina Cook - Chair (until Feb 2023)

Eileen Basher - Chair (Appointed Feb 2023)

Peter Barrett

Christopher Russell

Whanganui/ Palmerston North Trust

Murray Corps - Chair

Richard Smith

Garry Spooner

Life Members

Murray Corps

Rowan McGregor

Shenagh Gleisner

Andy Bogacki

Tony Hassed

Gerry Gibbs

Senior Management

Brendan Owens

Nicola Campbell

Andy Savage

Fiona Smith

Dan Byrne

Long service

10 Years

Joanne Thomas

Peter Wallis

5 Years

Pamela Somerton

Kendra Rudolph

Natasha Guilford

Amy Moreland

Louise Cullen

Debbie Houston-Tupou

Our People: Profile

Over her many years working with the Y, Debbie Houston-Tupou has engrained herself as an integral member of the Y family and a key member of the Upper Hutt community; working her way up to the manager of the Y Upper Hutt Gym. She brings passion, energy and laughter wherever she goes, all while bringing fitness, play and health programmes to the Upper Hutt community through the Y.

What’s your current role with The Y?

Ahumoni

Financial Highlights

July 1 2022 - June 30 2023

Y Central ($000s)

Thank you to all the wonderful donors, supporters and fundraisers who made a contribution to our philanthropic and capital works programmes. We also recognise those donors below who made a contribution to Y Central over the last 5 months:

Pilmuir Accommodation

67 Pilmuir Street

Lower Hutt

Te Pokapū Hapori

105 Manners St

Wellington

Kaitoke Outdoor Education Centre

184 Marchant Road

Upper Hutt

YMCA Masterton

371 Queen street

Masterton

Raukawa Adventure Centre

5163 Parapara

Highway SH4

YMCA Palmerston North

148 Park Rd

West End

YMCA Upper Hutt

Somme Road

Trentham

YMCA Whanganui

Springvale Park

Whanganui

Support Office

67 Pilmuir Street

Lower Hutt

0800 YMCA 4 U

www.ycentral.nz