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The YMCA is marking 150 years of service in Norfolk by publishing a commemorative book - telling the story of the YMCA in the county and featuring photos of memorable events.

Compiled by Charlotte Barringer and Peter Larter, the book celebrates the organisations work in the county since 1856 and looks ahead to an exciting future. Plans include the development of new premises on the site of Norwich Bus Station due to open this time next year.

Image problems

The YMCA has often suffered from a misunderstood image. As a religious organisation many people feel they need to be Christian before approaching them for help but that is not the case.

"It is the YMCA not the Young Men's Christian Association," said John Drake, the chief executive of the YMCA in Norfolk.

"You don't have to be young and you don't have to be a Christian to benefit from our services. What we aspire to be is the way in which we treat you will be in a Christian way.

"There's not that exclusiveness that some people can be confused with. At its centre are people that have a faith but that faith isn't predatory, it's not toxic. We're here to share what we've got and people can buy into it if they so wish," he added.

John Drake as Sheriff of Norwich

Helping people

It is the belief that people can be helped in many ways that is core to the way they work. While some people may feel that they need to discuss their faith, others may just need contact and somebody to talk about everyday things with.

The Norwich YMCA's move from its Bethel Street premises to a new development at the bus station in Norwich promises to enhance the YMCA's ability to help people.

"The bus station will accommodate 34 people and each person, male and female, will have their own room with en-suite facility," said John.

"And the premises we're aspiring to - 40 apartments at Music House Lane, private shower, toilet, bathroom but also a kitchen and people will begin to learn the skills essential to independent living and maintaining their own independent lifestyle."

The need to teach people how to live independently and take care of their lives is important to the way the YMCA functions. It's not a case of going in and staying within your comfort zone.

"If we have a person living in any of our residences more than two years we are worried because they're then becoming YMCA dependent, or, as people used to say in the old language, institutionalised," said John.

"We want to enable a person to engage with the challenging issues they've got in their life and the first target for us is to get them to get back home. So we would hope it's as short as it needs to be, not as long as we want it to be," he added.

The book - YMCA Norfolk 150 Years Of Service - is available from the YMCA offices in St Giles Street, Norwich - there's no cover price, but is available upon donation.