YMCA Heart of England

What YMCA Heart of England does

YMCA Heart of England is an independent Christian charity (Charity No. 218808, Company No. 170981) formed in 2020 through the merger of YMCA Birmingham and YMCA Coventry & Warwickshire, drawing on roughly 300 years of combined operational history. It provides social services across the West Midlands, primarily Birmingham, Coventry, Northfield, and Solihull. Service lines include supported housing for young people facing homelessness (300+ residents across sites such as The Orchard, Mary Court, Magdalene Court, Will Steel House, and Harry Watton House), nurseries (YMCA Shirley Day Nursery / Billy Bears Nursery), youth and community programs, training and education, conference and room hire, chaplaincy and mental health support, and a community café (Eden Coffee Shop). It is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, Ofsted and the Charities Commission, and is affiliated with YMCA England & Wales and the global YMCA movement.

The business model is multi-stream: government-funded supported housing contracts (the largest revenue stream, paid via local authority referrals and exempt-accommodation funding), nursery fee income at £290–£315/week for full-time care plus £64–£70/day and £43–£45/half-day session pricing, conference room hire at the Chris Bryant Centre, donations and fundraising routed through a national YMCA donation portal, and revenue from Eden Coffee Shop. Go-to-market is community-led: residents enter via local-authority social-services referrals, word-of-mouth, and direct community outreach, while nursery families enroll directly and conference clients are acquired through regional events and chamber networks. The portfolio is operated under a single integrated service brand with physical delivery through owned/managed properties, supported by partnerships with MORRO Partnerships, Heart of England Community Foundation, Homes England, Unity Trust Bank, and Clarion Housing Group.

Recent operational scale includes 110+ housing units, 1,000+ young people supported annually, 201 community events reaching 2,800 people, 85% overall tenant satisfaction, and 97% of young people reporting behavioural improvement. There is no proprietary technology platform or AI capability — service delivery is people-led and location-led — making in-person operations and partnership-based resourcing the core execution requirement rather than software scale.

Name

YMCA Heart of England

Legal name

YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) Heart of England

Website

https://ymcaheartofengland.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

YMCA Heart of England is a West Midlands Christian charity providing supported housing for young homeless people, nurseries, youth services, training, and community facilities across Birmingham, Coventry, Northfield, and Solihull.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing and Community Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Supported housing services
• Youth homelessness support
• Early childhood education
• Social housing provider
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Housing and Support Services: YMCA Heart of England generates revenue through government-funded housing contracts, social services agreements, and regulatory funding for supported accommodation services. The organization provides accommodation and personalized support services for young people facing homelessness.
2. Nursery Fees: The organization operates YMCA Shirley Day Nursery and Billy Bears Nursery, generating fee income from parents for childcare services. Pricing includes full-time, part-time, and play scheme options.
3. Conference and Room Hire: YMCA offers conference room hire services at their facilities, generating revenue from businesses and organizations renting meeting and event spaces.
4. Donations and Fundraising: As a registered charity, YMCA Heart of England receives donations, fundraising proceeds, and grant funding from supporters, trusts, and community partners.
5. Eden Coffee Shop: Community café operating at the Chris Bryant Centre, providing work experience for residents and generating revenue from food and beverage sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

YMCA Heart of England is a registered charity providing supported housing for young people facing homelessness (including The Orchard with 83 units and Mary Court with 27 move-on studio flats), early years childcare through Billy Bears Nursery/YMCA Shirley Day Nursery, youth and community programmes, training and education, conference and room hire, support and advice services (chaplaincy, counselling, mental health), and the Eden Coffee Shop community hub. Services are delivered across Birmingham, Coventry, Northfield, Erdington, and Solihull.

Product overview

YMCA Heart of England is a charitable organization offering a diverse portfolio of community services across Birmingham, Coventry, and Warwickshire. The core offering comprises supported housing schemes (including The Orchard with 83 units and Mary Court with 27 studio flats), youth and community services (youth clubs, workshops, and community programs), nursery education (YMCA Shirley Day Nursery), training and education programs, conference facilities, and community support services (chaplaincy, counselling, mental health). The organization provides accommodation and support to help vulnerable people towards independent living while also offering childcare, employability projects, and community café facilities. The portfolio functions as an integrated service ecosystem where housing residents can access youth services, training, and support, while community members can engage through the café, conference hire, and various programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Billy Bears: Early years education brand for the nursery services at YMCA Heart of England, located in Shirley, Solihull.

Products and services

• Supported Housing Safe, affordable, and supportive accommodation for young people facing homelessness or difficult circumstances, providing personalised support services to help residents progress towards independent living. Delivered at multiple sites including The Orchard (83 units), Will Steel House, Harry Watton House, Magdalene Court, Daimler Green, and St Margaret's.
• Move-on Accommodation Transitional housing designed to help residents move from supported housing into independent living, offering self-contained units with reduced support levels. Mary Court in Northfield provides 27 self-contained studio flats with full-sized kitchen areas, WC/shower rooms, ample storage, and communal laundry facilities.
• General Needs Accommodation Standard housing accommodation for individuals and families in need within the community, providing affordable rental housing options beyond the supported housing and move-on categories.
• YMCA Shirley Day Nursery / Billy Bears Nursery High-quality early years education and childcare nursery located in Shirley, Solihull, offering structured play, tailored activities, and a strong focus on school readiness for children aged 0-5. Full-time care £290-£315/week, full day £64-£70, half day £43-£45, play scheme £35/day or £150/week. 15% sibling discount and 5% NHS/Blue Light Card discount available.
• Youth & Community Services Supporting young people and families across Birmingham and Coventry with youth clubs, activities, workshops, and community programs focused on local needs and helping communities belong, contribute and thrive. Includes 201 community engagement events reaching nearly 2,800 people annually.
• Training & Education Opportunities to gain qualifications, skills and employment through employability projects, workplace experience, and training programs for young people and residents. Includes first aid training, employability skills, and workplace experience programs.
• Conference & Room Hire Fully equipped conference rooms available to hire for meetings, training sessions, workshops, and events at Chris Bryant Centre and other YMCA facilities, offering a professional environment suitable for a wide range of uses. Virtual tours available.
• Support & Advice Safe place to talk offering Chaplaincy, guided groups, mentoring, counselling, and mental health services for individuals in need. Accredited with Matrix quality standard for advice and guidance services.
• Eden Coffee Shop Community café providing a warm hub for the local community, work experience and employment for local young people and residents, and a food pantry. Operates in partnership with 2MuchPassion CIC and hosts Stay & Play sessions for families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of young people report behavioural improvement after YMCA support
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KagoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025Hosted the Reimagining the Region Autumn Reception at their Birmingham offices, bringing together local leaders, businesses, and charities to discuss the city's future.
• YMCA India / KTS ScholarsStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025YMCA India delegates visited YMCA Heart of England sites in Northfield, Coventry, and Erdington to examine facilities, interact with staff, and engage with supported housing programs. The visit commemorated international YMCA connections and facilitated knowledge exchange, knowledge dissemination, and cross-cultural understanding within the YMCA movement.
• MORRO PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024MORRO Partnerships (formerly Jessup Partnerships for over 30 years) developed Mary Court, 27 move-on accommodation units in Northfield, Birmingham. The contractor completed the development despite challenges including initial contractor liquidation, COVID, and additional construction costs. MORRO is committed to building sustainable communities across the Midlands.
• Clarion Housing GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024UK's largest housing association from whom YMCA Heart of England purchased 83 homes at The Orchard in September 2024. YMCA had managed the accommodation for Clarion since it was built in 2009. The purchase consolidates YMCA's role as landlord for these supported housing units.
• 2MuchPassion CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Non-profit organization using food to bring people and communities together. Partnership to host fundraising events and operate Eden Coffee Shop community café at Chris Bryant Centre. Eden provides work experience and employment for local young people and residents, serving as a warm hub for the community and food pantry.
• Mission ChristmasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Provided presents for children of YMCA residents during Christmas Carol Service and Santa's Grotto event, supporting the charity's gift drive for families in need.
• YMCA England & WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational YMCA body providing advice, support, and representation. Affiliation provides access to shared resources, best practices, advocacy support, and connection to the global YMCA movement. Hosted Youth Matters Awards 2025 where YMCA Heart of England won YMCA of the Year.
• One YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Heart of England team visited One YMCA to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from their work. The visit included discussions on fundraising, community engagement, and exploration of Woodlands Café, youth work projects, and Charters Day Nursery.
• Greater Birmingham Chamber of CommerceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYMCA Heart of England is a member of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and participates in Chamber events including the Greater Birmingham Business Expo 2025 to engage with local businesses and charities and build meaningful connections.
• Local Schools and Educational InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal secondary schools participated in Christmas Carol Service event with performances. Relationship supports youth engagement and educational outcomes.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• St Basil's: Birmingham-based charity delivering supported housing, youth services, and training for young people at risk of homelessness. Strongest local direct peer given shared West Midlands geography and beneficiary profile.
• Depaul UK: National charity providing accommodation and support services for young people facing homelessness. Comparable mission, supported-accommodation operating model, and reliance on local authority commissioning.
• Together Trust: UK charity providing residential care, supported living, and education for children and young people with complex needs. Comparable supported accommodation, training, and multi-service delivery.
• Centrepoint: UK's leading youth homelessness charity, providing supported housing and personal development services for 16–25 year-olds. Closely comparable to YMCA Heart of England in target population, housing-led model, and geography.

Broad incumbents

• Home Group: Major UK housing association providing supported housing and care services for vulnerable people. Comparable as a supported housing operator with both property portfolio and support services.
• Action for Children: Major national UK charity providing services for children, young people, and families, including residential care and family support. Comparable children/youth service portfolio, though operating nationally.
• YMCA England & Wales: Federated national body of the YMCA movement and parent affiliation for YMCA Heart of England. Operates portfolio of YMCAs across the UK delivering housing, youth, and community services — directly comparable service mix.
• St Mungo's: Large UK homelessness charity providing supported housing, recovery, and rough sleeper services. Comparable social housing and support service model, though broader adult clientele.

Others

• Clarion Housing Group: UK's largest housing association and former owner/operator of The Orchard (83 homes acquired by YMCA Heart of England in 2024). Relevant as a counterparty and large-scale comparable for supported housing stock ownership and management.

Regional players

• Local Solutions: West Midlands-based charity supporting homeless and vulnerable adults with accommodation, welfare advice, and outreach. Comparable regional social services delivery model and commissioning relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YMCAHeart
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ymcaheartofengland3853
• Facebookfacebook.com/YMCAHeart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ymca-heart-of-england
• Instagraminstagram.com/ymcahofe

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YMCA Heart of England