YMCA London South West

Now one of the largest YMCA's in Europe, YMCA London South West is a registered charity working in many diverse areas; Supported Housing; Health & Fitness (Y+ Fitness); Children's Work (Space); Youth Work (Room) and community cafes (Canteen at YMCA). Working in partnership with other like-minded organisation is something we have found to be very effective and current partners include the NHS, Kingston Churches Against Homelessness and Age UK.Our story began in 1874 as Kingston YMCA on Eden Street (roughly where McDonalds stands today). During the early 1980’s we moved to purpose built facilities in Surbiton built in partnership with Sainsbury’s. In 2000 we partnered with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to redevelop the Hawker Centre and in 2005 we merged with Wimbledon YMCA to become Kingston & Wimbledon YMCA. A year or so later, working with Hampton Pool Trust we took on the management of Hampton Pool. Not surprisingly, by 2009 it was felt our name no longer reflected the breadth of our work and so we became YMCA London South West.

Our name will stay the same for quite some time (we hope!) but more change is on the horizon with the complete redevelopment of YMCA Wimbledon and the launch of Y Cube, an exciting social housing project that aims to provide one solution to the serious housing shortage facing the UK.

Whatever the future holds or whatever new project or service we launch, it is underpinned by our vision:

'I am come that they may have life and that they might have it more abundantly.' John 10:10