Published on Friday, 4 August 2017 at 12:00:00 AM

The City of Vincent and YMCA have had a long and positive partnership since 2004 when the City first handed management of HQ over to YMCA for $1 a year. In that time, we’ve provided YMCA HQ with close to $1 million in funding for activities and programs for young people. In 2015, we took back the Skate Park and removed the fencing to make it open to the public 24 hours a day. 

We’re really lucky to have such a strong youth presence in Leederville, with YMCA HQ playing a vital role in that. Leederville is also home to Oxford Foyer, which houses and supports 98 young people, a TAFE, the City of Vincent Skate Park and Oxford Reserve on the doorstep of HQ. Leederville is an important place for young people across the metro area and in Vincent. 27% of Vincent residents are aged under 25, and with a local baby boom back in the mid 2000s, we’re on the cusp of a surge in our teenage population. 

As part of this year’s Community Budget Submission process, Vincent Council committed $40,000 towards supporting youth programs at YMCA HQ. Although less than funding we provided to HQ last year, it is not the only City of Vincent funding source available to YMCA. We also offer Community Grants for projects targeted to youth within Vincent. And this is combined with our investment in a wide range of other events and programs to support young people in our community. 

We really value YMCA HQ, and the City of Vincent and HQ are building an even stronger relationship. We’re already talking about working together to attract social enterprise ventures and other innovative happenings to this important youth hub. We want to see more local kids and young people engage with HQ and the programs it has to offer. We are a Council with a great passion for supporting our youth and for the creative arts. And this is a place for both.

Mayor Emma Cole

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