Teesdale YMCA's new boss outlines plans to expand the service

THE new head of Teesdale YMCA comes with a wealth of international experience and a head full of exciting ideas.

Rachel Dyne has been appointed operations director, taking over from chief executive Don Irving, who has returned to North Tyneside YMCA. The two YMCA groups merged earlier this year.

She arrives at the Teesdale outfit with some knowledge of its workings having spent the previous six months on its board. Ms Dyne said: “The staff have been doing such a fabulous job especially being in limbo for the past year with the merger. I know the YMCA has so much potential.

“Being from the outside and not embedded, I can see the potential to expand on what we do, but decisions we make today have to be for the future.”

The 29-year-old believes in smart targets that are measurable and achievable.

One aim is to launch an outreach service to attract more young people to the youth club. This, she said, is as simple as going out with a football and talking to young people where they gather.

The club, which runs from 5.30pm to 8.30pm Mondays to Fridays, currently attracts about 20 teenagers and she believes it has changed many of their lives. Ms Dyne spoke of one club member who said he would be out causing trouble if he did not attend.

She said: “For me it was quite a powerful statement being as it was their choice to come here and do positive things.”

Another youngster who has been with the club for six years since the age of 11 has gone to find employment.

Ms Dyne said: “Those sorts of stories are important to share because what we do does have an impact.

“Another tactic to draw young people to the club is using social media such as Facebook and Instagram.”

Teesdale YMCA aims to expand its after-school clubs, where things such as science-based activities, are offered.

While the potential to grow the club is explored, other programmes such as the community cafes in Cockfield and Evenwood will be maintained.

Ms Dyne said: “The community cafes are vital to those communities, for all ages, not just the young people who attend. We are a lifeline for those communities.”

She has come to Teesdale from Darlington YMCA. Before that she was an international volunteer for the YMCA working in Eastern Europe, Bangladesh and India.

She later worked as a “change agent” for the organisation and spoke before the UN in 2016 as part of a group of five who launched the YMCA’s One Million Voices research project to the UN’s Economic and Social Forum.

Ms Dyne said: “Just walking into the UN building itself was quite intimidating. It is probably one of my highlights. I have been very blessed being with the YMCA.”

The former psychology and counselling student at Teesside University also attended the YMCA’s World Council in Colorado in 2014.

In spite of her many achievements, she sees coming to the dale’s small YMCA branch as equally important.

Ms Dyne said: “Our core is to empower people, all over the world, every single day. In Teesdale we are a part of that puzzle, and a very vital part. It doesn’t matter about how big you are, it is about the impact we have on the young people.”