Welcome to YMCA Essex
YMCA Essex is an inclusive Christian charity rooted in local communities and working with people of all faiths and people of none to meet the needs of children, young people and their families, and supporting them so they can develop and grow and achieve their goals in life.
What we do
Our Childcare Services includes a nursery for babies – 5 year olds, Breakfast and Out of School Clubs and Holiday Clubs.
Our Youth Services includes youth clubs designed to help young people make new friends and have lots of fun! The groups run every day of the week in different areas of Essex, including Chelmsford and Colchester.
Our Housing Services consists of a 44-room supported housing unit in Colchester. We house young people aged 16-25 for up to two years.
Read our latest news
The Mayor of Chelmsford has released her latest Newsletter, which as The Mayor’s Charity of the Year, we are delighted to share with you. The November Newsletter is available to read here.

Julie, was presented with a High Sheriff of Essex Award today, in “recognition of great and valuable services to the community”.
Julie has worked for YMCA Essex for four years now and we really don’t know what we’d do without her. Here’s a photo of Julie being presented with her award by The High Sheriff of Essex
We are honoured to announce that the new Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Linda Mascot, has selected YMCA Essex as her Charity of the Year for 2023/2024.
The announcement was made at the Annual Full Council Meeting this evening, Wednesday 24 May 2023.
At YMCA Essex we are very committed to protecting any personal information which is given to us. The ways that we use your contact details and keep them safe, and your rights concerning any personal data that we hold about you, are fully explained in our Data Privacy Notice, please follow the link below.
YMCA Essex Data Privacy Notice