Hoop Springs Eternal

In my position as Regional Executive Officer for the North East, Yorkshire & NE Lincolnshire Regions and as the International Officer for YMCA England I committ to promote the World Record attempt. In addition I will promote this through my REO collogues across England.

I think it is a fantastic opportunity to engage people across the globe in what could be a truely remarkable experience.

'I'm In'

A life changing experience?

I’m fully aware that’s its very corny to come back from an event, or a visit, and describe it as “life changing”. I’ve heard it many times before when someone returns from a challenging convention or even a great holiday.

For me this event wasn’t really about Hong Kong and it certainly was no holiday. Don’t get me wrong, it was a huge privilege to be on the other side of the world in such a great place. More important was the work that went on in the Wu Kwai Sha youth village and I’m personally proud of the levels of effort that the English delegation contributed to the event.

We hardly saw Kie Cummings all week and if we did he had his laptop in hand, meticulously recording and writing up each session, often into the early hours of the morning. David Bennision and Mark Harrod also were heavily involved in note taking and recording.

In fact this World Council saw the English delegation contributing at many levels, from running workshops to our young people performing at the opening ceremony. There were also many other contributions from the delegation over the past seven days as well, but special mention should go to my colleague Ken Montgomery, whose endeavours both during the week and the last twelve months in preparation made our World Council experience all the more enjoyable.


Then there was the excitement of Ian Pearson’s election to the YMCA World Executive Committee. I was able to ask Ian about his vision for his new role:




I’m also thrilled that the young people within our party have come back buzzing with ideas and enthusiasm to take back to their YMCAs. Even our delegation’s youngest member, 14-year-old Kieran, played a major practical role in sorting the staff rota for our exhibition stand and was invited onto main-stage as well.

I managed to speak briefly with two of our colleagues on some of their highlights.

Graham, Northumberland Federation of YMCAs:



Matthew, West Bromwich and District YMCA


And for me personally, my view of the YMCA, being a pretty amazing movement, has been strengthened. From Gwenael’s “against the odds” rebuilding work in Haiti to the practical and innovative communications and IT that Miguel and Latin America and Caribbean colleagues are implementing, we do some awesome work.


Additionally, the world-wide enthusiasm and support for the 2012 "Hoop Springs Eternal" YMCA basketball challenge was staggering.


I’ve had some inspiring conversations over the last seven days learning about New Zealand’s YMCA week and the in-depth research process for the US’s “the Y” rebranding (incidentally this shows why “the Y” might not work in England).

The challenge is to keep these conversations going to enhance our work when we’re back at base, so that our communities can be transformed and so that young people can truly belong, contribute and thrive all around the world.

So was Hong Kong life changing?

Well, after all that we’ve seen, heard and learnt over the last seven days, for the sake of our young people it has to be.

Focussing on 1.75 billion

Following the success of the 17th World Council the YMCA World Urban network Conference formally opens this evening. WUN brings together the Chief Executives of significant urban YMCAs from acorss the globe. Almost 100 participants will be focussing on the theme of "The Health of Children and Youth around the World"

More than 1.75 billion 10 - 24 year olds are on the planet and a shocking 10 million children die every year - that is more than 1000 every hour. Almost all of these children could survive and thrive if they had access to simple affordable interventions.

The conference will explore best practice in YMCAs as well as focussing on how we advocate on behalf of children and young people and ensure that they have a voice.

The World Council concludes

The 17th World Council of YMCAs has now concluded - the 1,000 delegates from across the globe from Haiti to Honduras, Poland and The Phillipines are now beginning to head home challenged as to how their YMCAs respond to the challenge of being global citizens. The English Delegation played a full and active role in the activities of the Council, shaping resolutions, leading workshops and responding positively to the invitation to mobilise resources. We go home tired but enthused.

World YMCAs sign up for "Hoop Springs Eternal"

YMCAs from all over the world showed their suport for the global "Hoop Springs Eternal" basketball challenge, a world record attempt due to take place in 2012.

Leaders, officers and volunteers from YMCAs signed a basketball to show their support.

Hoop springs eternal at the World Council - Global Basketball Challenge Endorsed

David Thompson presents the global Basketball Challenge to World Council.

Delegates at the 17th World Council of YMCAs in Hong Kong, have just voted to unanimously to support a YMCA World Record attempt in basketball.

Central YMCA and YMCA England have proposed that on the morning of the Olympic Basketball Final at London 2012, that YMCAs all around the world will shoot hoops at the same time in the record attempt, aiming for at least 2 million participants from the 45 million current YMCA members.

This unanimous support provides Central YMCA a mandate to lead this challenge on behalf of the global YMCA movement.

Central YMCA’s David Thompson said:

“What a brilliant response from the eighty-five countries represented here in Hong Kong. This will enhance the world’s view of the YMCA as a force for good, locally, nationally and internationally.

Basketball was invented by the YMCA and it’s fitting that we will be using the sport to unite globally and showcase our work and impact. Detailed planning starts here.”

We want you to be a part of this global event.

Please register at:
http://www.ymca.co.uk/worldrecord2012

Ian's in!

YMCA England Chairman Tim Waldron congratulates Ian Pearson on his election to the YMCA World Executive Committee.

Ian is a trustee of North Tyneside YMCA and a member of the English National Board. Ian will serve for a period of four years and will work with the new team to oversee a radical transformation of the strategic plan of the World Alliance.