THE CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
CENTRAL YMCA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND LARGEST CHARITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE HELP MAKE LIVES HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND MORE FULFILLED THROUGH A UNIQUE BLEND OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT. ALL OF OUR WORK GOES TOWARDS HELPING TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES NATIONWIDE THROUGH OUR FOUR OPERATIONS; YMCA TRAINING, YMCA AWARDS, YMCAFIT, AND YMCA CLUB.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity recorded a net expenditure of £5.3m for the year ended 31 July 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in total funds from £8.1m to £2.8m. Per the trustees' report, the charity is undergoing a strategic restructuring to exit loss-making activities, with a material uncertainty disclosed regarding its ability to continue as a going concern due to the ongoing nature of these changes.
What the accounts disclose
“The free reserves balance as at 31 July 2025 was therefore 48% of target (2024: 135% based upon three month’s operating costs).” — page 46
“The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis but the Board acknowledges that there is a Material Uncertainty in relation to the ongoing restructuring of the Charity. While the directors consider that there is a reasonable expectation that the restructuring plans will be implemented successfully, the outcome of these actions cannot be determined with certainty at the date of approval of the financial statements.” — page 39
“As per note 14, as at 31 July 2025 £66k (2024: £333k) was owed by the Charity to Central YMCA Trading Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Charity. Central YMCA Trading Limited provides and markets items derived from the activities of the Charity and undertakes other non-primary purpose trading activities. The profits of this subsidiary are paid by Gift Aid to the Charity subsequent to the year-end.” — page 93
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "above" (FY2024) to "below" (FY2025).
- Going concern: no going-concern doubt (FY2024) → material uncertainty (FY2025).
Regulator actions
ICO enforcement: Monetary penalties against The Central Young Men’s Christian Association (Charitable and voluntary).
ICO enforcement: Reprimands against The Central Young Men’s Christian Association (Charitable and voluntary).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Ryan Palmer — CEO
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Trustees
- Amanda-Jane Rice
- Carol Snape
- Kevin Robert Suckling
- Liane Langdon
- Melissa Eliza Bryant
- Stephen Guatam Varma
- Yusuf Nurbhai
- Yvonne Kelly
- Zulfiqar Hussain
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £11.7m | £17.2m |
| 31/07/2024 | £10.6m | £18.4m |
| 31/07/2023 | £9.0m | £13.4m |
| 31/07/2022 | £9.5m | £12.8m |
| 31/07/2021 | £10.8m | £13.4m |
Common questions
Is THE CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a net expenditure of £5.3m for the year ended 31 July 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in total funds from £8.1m to £2.8m. Per the trustees' report, the charity is undergoing a strategic restructuring to exit loss-making activities, with a material uncertainty disclosed regarding its ability to continue as a going concern due to the ongoing nature of these changes. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.
Who funds THE CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION as a grant recipient include YOUNG CAMDEN FOUNDATION, FORD BRITAIN TRUST, THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOUNG CAMDEN FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £14k | |
| YOUNG CAMDEN FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £4k | Grants to institutions |
| FORD BRITAIN TRUST | FY2024 | £3k | |
| THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £1k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport England | 18/10/2023 | £12k | Move Together |
| Camden Giving | 11/12/2020 | £2k | Central YMCA |
| UK government | 15/09/2020 | £29k | Coronavirus Community Support Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 09/02/2012 | £6k | Y Touring National Science and Engineering week |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 06/07/2006 | £150k | Development of a Youth Club led by young people - health and learning |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire | 1 | £146k |
| LANDAID CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £25k |
| THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC | 1 | £24k |
| COUNTY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | 1 | £13k |
| THE EDWARD AND DOROTHY CADBURY TRUST | 1 | £3k |
| THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| THE ANNIE TRANMER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| THE NORWOOD AND NEWTON SETTLEMENT | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- LINCOLNSHIRE Y.M.C.A. LTD
- YMCA THAMES GATEWAY
- CHELTENHAM YMCA
- YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, PORT TALBOT BRANCH
- YMCA NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE LTD.
- YMCA WOLVERHAMPTON
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | £11.7m | — | — | below | — | material uncertainty |
| LINCOLNSHIRE Y.M.C.A. LTD | £9.2m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| YMCA THAMES GATEWAY | £9.4m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| CHELTENHAM YMCA | £4.5m | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, PORT TALBOT BRANCH | £316k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| YMCA NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE LTD. | £6.3m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |