North Tyneside YMCA appeals for new sponsors to provide financial support

The North Tyneside YMCA is looking for sponsors to help provide financial support as the organisation aims to continue its vital community work.

The appeal comes following the launch of its ‘Community Meals’ initiative in January, which has seen YMCA North Tyneside serve more than 800 hot meals to those in need.

The free meals are currently running every two weeks, but as winter approaches, the need for the service is expected to drastically increase.

In order for the charity to meet the demand by hosting weekly meals, it is on the look out for potential sponsors as the YMCA only has enough sponsorshop to last until January 2024 as it stands.

Cat Morton, fundraising coordinator at YMCA North Tyneside, has highlighted how important the service is to some people in the North East.

She said: “Donations from local businesses have been instrumental in the delivery of our hot meals, helping ensure that we can continue to support the most vulnerable members of our community.

“I see firsthand the reliance that the local community has on these meals; for many of our regular attendees, they provide their only source of hot food.

“Our fortnightly meals currently feed around 100 people per month, and when they become available weekly, we expect this number to double.

“This illustrates just how essential our support is to so many families from across the North East.

“We need to ensure that this service isn’t lost, like so many others in our area have been”.

Read Newcastle’s news on the go with our free email newsletters - bringing the headlines to your inbox. Catch up on the day’s news and sport and enjoy even more from the NewcastleWorld team. Visit our website here to find out more and sign up.

The majority of the ingredients for the community meals are grown in YMCA North Tyneside’s North Shields’ allotment, the creation of which was funded by existing corporate partners.

This has allowed the organisation to use the allotment to promote sustainable living, supply highly nutritious meals, and gives volunteers the opportunity to connect with nature.