KIA ORA!
The Y has embarked on a transformational programme of change called 'Amplify The Y', engaging with leadership from the National Board, Association Boards and CEOs, and led by a peer nominated Steering Committee. Under the sponsorship and co-ordination of the National CEO, a group of highly diverse but talented leaders across New Zealand have come together for a common purpose: to grow the movement, increase impact, create amazing outcomes for communities.
Amplify The Y consists of five transformational projects (listed below) that together will redefine our long-term strategy, enhance our programme delivery, and strengthen our leadership in years to come. Read on to learn more about each project and the change it brings to the YMCA!
• Will Watterson, Amplify The Y Programme Manager
The Y has embarked on a transformational programme of change called 'Amplify The Y', engaging with leadership from the National Board, Association Boards and CEOs, and led by a peer nominated Steering Committee. Under the sponsorship and co-ordination of the National CEO, a group of highly diverse but talented leaders across New Zealand have come together for a common purpose: to grow the movement, increase impact, create amazing outcomes for communities.
Amplify The Y consists of five transformational projects (listed below) that together will redefine our long-term strategy, enhance our programme delivery, and strengthen our leadership in years to come. Read on to learn more about each project and the change it brings to the YMCA!
• Will Watterson, Amplify The Y Programme Manager
Raise Up
Raise Up is a flagship youth development programme that empowers young people through leadership, learning, and event management opportunities. The programme fosters in rangatahi a sense of pride and respect for themselves and the communities they live in. Raise Up provides not only a platform for youth voice, and with the project being predominantly youth-led, it also allows youth to initiate leadership in areas that matter most to them. Designed for rangatahi (12-18 years) and facilitated by a coordinator, Raise Up brings a crew of young people together on a weekly basis to identify, plan and deliver events, activities and workshops for their peers.
The opportunity provided by 'Amplify the Y' is to scale Raise Up considerably, expanding from Auckland and Waikato across the Motu. As a core component of this proposal, the Y seeks to invest into the Y’s capacity and capability to influence, plan and deliver quality active recreation opportunities with and alongside, one of Sport New Zealand’s priority population groups – young people (12-18 years). As of July 2022 we have already rolled out 15 new Raise Up crews across the country, with many more to come!
Raise Up is a flagship youth development programme that empowers young people through leadership, learning, and event management opportunities. The programme fosters in rangatahi a sense of pride and respect for themselves and the communities they live in. Raise Up provides not only a platform for youth voice, and with the project being predominantly youth-led, it also allows youth to initiate leadership in areas that matter most to them. Designed for rangatahi (12-18 years) and facilitated by a coordinator, Raise Up brings a crew of young people together on a weekly basis to identify, plan and deliver events, activities and workshops for their peers.
The opportunity provided by 'Amplify the Y' is to scale Raise Up considerably, expanding from Auckland and Waikato across the Motu. As a core component of this proposal, the Y seeks to invest into the Y’s capacity and capability to influence, plan and deliver quality active recreation opportunities with and alongside, one of Sport New Zealand’s priority population groups – young people (12-18 years). As of July 2022 we have already rolled out 15 new Raise Up crews across the country, with many more to come!
Communities Of Practice
We know that across the Y network the staff working in each Y are highly skilled, work within a
clear policy and procedure framework, are creative and innovative and provide high quality
service. However, they commonly work in isolation. In part this occurs because there has been no
structure to enable collaboration across the Y movement
To tackle this issue we are developing Communities of Practice (COPs), aligned with each of our
different service areas. This project will build more durable connections and relationships both
across associations and with the National Office as a diverse range of our staff start working
together on key projects, and sharing resources.
We know that across the Y network the staff working in each Y are highly skilled, work within a
clear policy and procedure framework, are creative and innovative and provide high quality
service. However, they commonly work in isolation. In part this occurs because there has been no
structure to enable collaboration across the Y movement
To tackle this issue we are developing Communities of Practice (COPs), aligned with each of our
different service areas. This project will build more durable connections and relationships both
across associations and with the National Office as a diverse range of our staff start working
together on key projects, and sharing resources.
Honouring Te Tiriti
YMCA aims to build its bicultural capability and diversity for several important reasons:
A more bicultural organisation will enable programmes and services to be designed and delivered
by Māori for Māori
-
Enabling a more effective focus on increasing participation by Māori
-
Supporting better career pathways and enhance the careers of Māori working in the Y
-
Building stronger capability and credibility to engage and partner with Māori, iwi, hapū and whānau to support youth development.
-
Reflecting the modern face of New Zealand and becoming a more attractive and inclusive organisation from which a diverse range of people can serve their communities.
YMCA aims to build its bicultural capability and diversity for several important reasons:
A more bicultural organisation will enable programmes and services to be designed and delivered
by Māori for Māori
-
Enabling a more effective focus on increasing participation by Māori
-
Supporting better career pathways and enhance the careers of Māori working in the Y
-
Building stronger capability and credibility to engage and partner with Māori, iwi, hapū and whānau to support youth development.
-
Reflecting the modern face of New Zealand and becoming a more attractive and inclusive organisation from which a diverse range of people can serve their communities.
Youth InspYre
The Y Youth Declaration and Strategy (2020) sets out a long-term strategic approach for
the Y to become the organisation of choice for youth development.
The Action Plan is a combination of new initiatives as well as transforming the existing
movement and services the Y delivers. The objective of the Youth InspYre initiative is to
progress the implementation of the three focus areas in this plan.
Achieving the outcomes of this strategy for all YMCA young people, requires a collective,
consistent and coordinated approach from all of our associations. We can achieve a greater
impact by working together as a movement. The Communities of Practice (separate project) will
be a key vehicle for achieving this.
The Y Youth Declaration and Strategy (2020) sets out a long-term strategic approach for
the Y to become the organisation of choice for youth development.
The Action Plan is a combination of new initiatives as well as transforming the existing
movement and services the Y delivers. The objective of the Youth InspYre initiative is to
progress the implementation of the three focus areas in this plan.
Achieving the outcomes of this strategy for all YMCA young people, requires a collective,
consistent and coordinated approach from all of our associations. We can achieve a greater
impact by working together as a movement. The Communities of Practice (separate project) will
be a key vehicle for achieving this.
One Y
The One Y project has three components, which will require commitment to working as One Y,
and collaboration:
-
Develop a national strategy including clear expectations for performance. To complete the process we have started requires additional focus on the whole of Y strategy across all areas of strategic focus.
-
Enhance governance including board diversity, skills and expertise. Good governance requires a collective of individuals who will role-model the culture, make strategic and prudent decisions that will foster stakeholder confidence, and lead the Y organisation towards sustainability.
-
Develop a contemporary constitutional model that provides a foundation for a strategically focused future. The Y operates under a federated model with the Associations ‘owning’ the Y nationally. The autonomous local Associations operate alongside and under guidance from the National YMCA leadership. How this is reflected in strategy and accountability is currently operating with some ambiguity and lack of clarity. The Y needs to have a national ownership model that reflects a commitment to enhancing the Y for the future.
One Y
The One Y project has three components, which will require commitment to working as One Y,
and collaboration:
-
Develop a national strategy including clear expectations for performance. To complete the process we have started requires additional focus on the whole of Y strategy across all areas of strategic focus.
-
Enhance governance including board diversity, skills and expertise. Good governance requires a collective of individuals who will role-model the culture, make strategic and prudent decisions that will foster stakeholder confidence, and lead the Y organisation towards sustainability.
-
Develop a contemporary constitutional model that provides a foundation for a strategically focused future. The Y operates under a federated model with the Associations ‘owning’ the Y nationally. The autonomous local Associations operate alongside and under guidance from the National YMCA leadership. How this is reflected in strategy and accountability is currently operating with some ambiguity and lack of clarity. The Y needs to have a national ownership model that reflects a commitment to enhancing the Y for the future.