Angela Lane

Foyer support worker Nicola Hamilton and 2 residents from Halton YMCA are now in Training for the upcoming annual 5 mile road race called 'Run the Bridge' on Sunday 23rd March 2008. Training has been taking place all week, even in this weather!!! The residents have been training by attending football sessions this week to improve their fitness levels before the race.

Foyer support worker Nicola Hamilton and 2 residents from Halton YMCA will be running the upcoming annual 5 mile road race called 'Run the Bridge' on Sunday 23rd March 2008. The race starts at Runcorn Railway Station, crossing the Runcorn Bridge and finishing in Hale Park.

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As part of their City and Guilds Preparation for Employment Qualification, 7 trainees and 1 tutor decided to hold a charity event at Halton YMCA Training in Widnes. The Preparation for Employment unit covered by the event was Understanding Citizenship (Planning a Community Project).

Homeless residents at Halton YMCA have been involved in writing poems, internet research and creating posters and art work to be displayed at our local Halton Lodge Community Centre.

Our outreach advice and guidance centre based at 3 Alcock Street in the Old Town is going from strength to strength, with more visitors than ever! Runcorn town centre is benefiting from the free services provided at the centre such as: CV writing, drop in, advice and guidance sessions, job-search, internet access and friendly support.

We have just successfully taken another group of young people through our Learning Power Award course, based at the main YMCA site and our out-reach centre- Y's Up. Residents of the YMCA have been accessing sessions around Personal Development including, sexual health, healthy living, problem solving, team building, confidence and motivation to gain a City & Guilds accredited certificate in Self Development through learning'. This course has also been delivered at our outreach centre working in close partnership with Belvedere and Halton Goals. The local hostels made referrals to our tutors and we have delivered the training sessions at the outreach centre for their residents.

Mike Hughes has worked within the Training Dept at Halton YMCA on an Admin placement scheme for the last 6 months. Claire Bradbury - Deputy Chief Executive/Training Manager said "I must stress that he has impressed all colleagues with his determination and commitment, we are pleased to welcome him to the team".

My name is Angela Lane and I am a Tutor/Mentor here in the Training Department at Halton YMCA. I came to the YMCA in the year 2000 on a training course and liked it so much that when they offered me an Administration placement; I agreed to start straight away. Over the last six years I have gained qualifications in Administration, Mentoring and have now qualified as an Assessor. I have worked on many different contracts including delivering the Learning Power Award course to our residents and being a Mentor for any young person who accesses our Emergency Access Room. I also run Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) funded through Connexions' delivering sessions and courses to young people who wouldn't normally have access to such activities. It is a very varied and enjoyable job and I now have been nominated as the YMCA's press officer so have the opportunity to promote the good work we do here further a field.