The task has always been to listen carefully to both our members and the wider community on what is needed in today’s society. Throughout history, YMCA has always reacted to the needs of the community at the time, so the question was how we can create something not just for now, but for the future, for programmes that we can’t even imagine yet. Whilst we focus heavily on the body, in the future we hope to add classes that cater to the mind and spirit too - all rolled into one. Towards the end of the evening we were split into groups to test our listening skills. The intentional listening exercise gave us the chance to listen for both emotional and functional ideas and thoughts from eachother to really engage.
Later in the evening, we had talks on a range of projects that have helped in their local communities - Birmingham Soup, Wikihouse and Run Yoga Run. Birmingham Soup gives local residents a chance to vote on projects happening across the city and vote on what’s best for the community. Wikihouse also brings together communities, giving people the information they need to build their own house together with an aim to create longstanding relationships, as well as the Ikea effect - the theory that you’ll be more proud of something you've built yourself. Finally, Run Yoga Run is a company that helps implement wellness into the culture of a compnay. It provides training and workshops for employees - and we all know how improtant wellbeing in the workplace is.
