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Kenny Baxter, Centre Manager, said, “We cater generally for those who are disadvantaged in our society. It is part of the Christian ethos that underpins the YMCA movement. We also accomodate people who are disabled and we have activities too for them. Our mission is basically to help people.
“We have a team of 12 who have come from countries across the world to gain experience in this line of work. From April to September is our busy period about the centre but activities go on all year round. People have come from all the counties in the EU, and as far as the US and Australia to work at Greenhill. Greenhill has an excellent reputation internationally among other YMCA centres and beyond. Many of our staff come through the YMCA network.”
[caption id="attachment_25343" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Greenhill YMCA Centre Manager in Newcastle looks over the area where a new sports area is planned if they are successful in winning the People"]
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Just at the back of the small Greenhill ‘estate’ accessed from a road behind the Donnard Park, there is an enclosed flat area where games have been played. However, the surface is very poor and basically unsuitable by modern standards for sports and games activities. Greenhill plans if it is successful to build a new polymeric synthetic multi-sports games’ surface over the area measuring around 50×25 metres.
“This will be a a multi-functional play area which is much needed to maintain and develop our activities,” explained  Kenny. “We will be able to diversify what we can provide to groups and the area can be marked out with different pitch markers for different sports such as basketball and tennis.
“We can also use this space for outdoor laser tagging which we would like to develop. Midnight lazer sessions close to the centre will be fun.
“The sports’ space could be made accessible too to the local sports and community groups to use which would add to local sustainability. We have shower and changing facilities in our new block recently built. The polymeric pitch will bring this major project on to its next level.
“In the People’s MIllions competition, we will be using a wide marketing mix to get our message across. We will have 10,000 postcards delivered, be very active using different froms of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and we will be looking for the support from the people of Newcastle and the area, and from sporting and community groups, and within the YMCA itself. Our staff and volunteer helpers too will be blitzing Newcastle on  the street trying to enlist as much votes as possible.
[caption id="attachment_25344" align="alignright" width="300" caption="On work experience in Down News for a week is James Bell, fifth year student at St Patrick's High School in Downpatrick  pictured chatting during a visit to Greenhill YMCA to QUB international politics undergraduate Peter McCormick who is spending the summer gaining some media experience."]
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‘It will be a tough call. We will do our best. An improved facility such as this would make a tremendous difference to a very large number of  young people. The £60,000 from the People’s Millions would be greatly appreciated by all of the professional and volunteer workers at Greenhill.
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