History of YMCA Auckland

YMCA in New Zealand began in Auckland. There are currently 14 centres managed and/or owned by YMCA Auckland. They are located from Hamilton to Waiwera and provide recreation services from camps to fitness to swimming to sport to community services. The organisation still holds the strong YMCA brand and stands by its core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, Responsibility and these values have fallen out of the Christian heritage of the organisation and are the thread that ties us to the Y, M and C influencing factors. In essence we are a not-for-profit association that delivers services to the community.

YMCA Nationally

In 1855 a small building on the Auckland waterfront became the first home for the YMCA in New Zealand. By 1910, ten YMCAs were operating from Auckland to Invercargill. World War One (1914-1918) saw the YMCA taking on a new role. YMCA field secretaries were appointed to serve with the soldiers. They helped with the wounded, ran canteens, distributed supplies, and organised recreational activities. Back home, volunteers raised funds and provided servicemen with accommodation and other facilities. Educational and work related issues were a major part of the YMCA's work during the 1920s and 30s. Literacy and debating societies flourished. There were classes in salesmanship, motor mechanics, boot repairing and many other skills. When unemployment soared during the Depression, YMCA's created special recreational training programmes for those out of work. In the late 1940s, the YMCA began to focus more on physical education and recreation, spearheading a growing awareness about health and fitness. Indoor and outdoor sports were promoted and young women were included more often. Some programmes were run in suburban halls, making them accessible to more people. During this time voluntary leadership training was begun and by the 1970's community support and involvement was a major focus. The YMCA was active in training for employment, youth at risk, and welfare organizations. It developed new approaches to health and fitness, including drug education, cardiac rehabilitation, health clinics, back care and much more. Health and fitness for all, youth, and training programmes are still important to the New Zealand YMCA. But, as we move further forward, we are constantly working on new ways and means of improving BODY, MIND & SPIRIT.

YMCA Internationally

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), organisation having as its objective the development of values and behaviours that are consistent with Christian principles. Despite the retention of the name, membership is not limited to the Young, Men and / or Christians, and since World War II women and girls have been accepted as members. The YMCA was launched (6 June 1844) in London by Sir George Williams and a group of young men as a place to help other young working men find God through prayer and Bible study. In 1851 the movement took root in North America. Following the lead of Montreal and Boston, a number of other countries soon formed their own YMCAs, and in 1854 the first convention of North American associations took place in Buffalo, N.Y. A world conference in Paris (1855), attended by delegates from eight nations, led to the formation of the World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations in the same year. The organisation now has branches on every continent. Originally focused on Bible study and religious activities, the YMCA has greatly broadened its mission statement over the years. YMCAs often provide inexpensive accommodation, meeting space for community groups, gymnasiums and pools, and child-care programs. YMCAs serve 30 million people in 120 countries! Basketball & Volleyball: In 1891, Dr James Naismith, at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, invented the game of Basketball and in 1895 YMCA instructor William Morgan invented Volleyball. He believed basketball was too strenuous for businessmen.