YMCA Norfolk chosen as Ashtons’ Norwich Charity of the Year

Ashtons Charitable Trust, the charitable trust set up by law firm Ashtons Legal in 2014, has recently chosen the YMCA Norfolk to be the Norwich office’s charity of the year.

The money will be raised throughout the year supported by corporate and charity fundraising events, via internal activities such as raffles and social events, as well as through the Ashtons Legal Wills Campaign where the firm donates £10 for every new Will created throughout the year. These charities and causes are supported by staff nominating and voting for their Charities of the Year, who then go on to receive an annual donation.

YMCA Norfolk is part of the largest youth charity in the world and was founded in 1844. Collectively the YMCA has helped more than 65 million people across 120 countries. They provide foundations for a fresh start for young people and a better quality of life in the community.

The YMCA focuses on five main areas of helping people, which they believe are “essential blocks for a full and rewarding life”:

1. Family & youth work – where they help to support families with nursery, day care, holiday and year-round programmes.
2. Health & Wellbeing – providing more than 200 health and well-being facilities, including gyms, swimming pools, outdoor activity centres, and community halls.
3. Housing – providing safe and affordable places to live and offering over 9,000 beds for people in England and Wales, including emergency accommodation, longer-term housing, and youth hostels.
4. Support & advice – helping young people grow and develop.
5. Training & education – offering a range of education, skills-based training, placement and apprenticeship schemes.

Chair of Ashtons’ CSR Committee, Natalie Westgate says: “It is always a pleasure to support such worthwhile causes in our local communities and I thank all our staff for their support and fundraising efforts.”

“Looking ahead, we really want to form meaningful and lasting relationships with our Charities of the Year, so we have decided to increase the term we support them to two years. I am therefore delighted to announce that in 2024 and 2025 we will be working with Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, FoodCycle Cambridge, St Elizabeth Hospice, Young Lives vs Cancer and YMCA Norfolk.”