About
Cupar YMCA-YWCA is a charity in North East Fife which offers a broad programme of activities for children, young people, families and adults and works in partnership with many local organisations and providing support services and opportunities for the community.
The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) and YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) have had a long history in the town, firstly as individual organisations from the late nineteenth century, then joining together to become a joint association in 1965.
Over the years, many local people have had their children attending the Triangle Playgroup, have participated in youth clubs, football teams, and attended the old Friday night discos! An annual event is the Christmas Fair and Coffee Morning – a key fundraiser which is supported well by members of the community.
Today, the YMCA-YWCA has a real focus on offering opportunities with activity groups, adult learning workshops and courses, family learning, youth work and community engagement. Local organisations hire out the facilities to run their meetings and activities and this includes organisations such as the mental health organisation, Express Group Fife, Cupar Highland Games, Fife Athletic Club, Fife Alcohol Advisory Service, the University of the Third Age (U3A).
But that’s not all – the YMCA-YWCA is seen as a key contact point and has a reputation for being warm and welcoming, able to provide support and information at key times in people’s lives. This busy community facility is right in the heart of the town of Cupar. Marathon House is, a three-storey listed property found in the Bonnygate, converted over the years to enable it to provide a vital resource to the community. There’s an outdoor play space too to the rear or the property which has been a vital asset during recent lockdown restrictions.
Not only has the Y, as it is affectionately known, its own programme and partnership working projects, but works out there in the community. For example: the staff team and volunteers work with Fife Council to provide Café Inc – free school holiday lunches with activity packs; there’s family learning roadshows – activity days where families can play and learn together; Cupar Playscheme in the summer holidays in partnership with Social Work; participation in community events at the Haugh park and hosting Santa’s Grotto at the Christmas Lights Switch On!
The YMCA-YWCA has its own Trustee Board and is presently working to becoming a SCIO. It has a General Secretary and staff team who are responsible for its day-to-day management and delivery. Visit the Meet the Team and Meet Our Board pages to find out more about the people making it all happen for the YMCA-YWCA
As a voluntary organisation, volunteers play a key role in supporting its work not just on the Board but assisting in its day to day running, fundraising and leading activity groups. If you want to find out more about volunteering and the opportunities that are available, pay the Volunteers page a visit for further details!
