'It's not just a piece of real estate': The campaign to save the world's first YMCA
I spoke to the Save our YMCA campaign about their battle against property developers Criterion Capital
We live in increasingly lonely times. In the UK, campaigners say we’re experiencing a loneliness epidemic, with 50% people feeling lonely sometimes and 7% experiencing chronic loneliness. This crisis isn’t just impacting our mental health; loneliness makes us more likely to suffer from cardiovascular issues and inflammation, increasing the risk of early mortality by 26%.
There are many reasons for this crisis of isolation, but one factor has been the closure of our community spaces. As these places have been shut down, it has become harder than ever for people to have the day to day interactions that give us all a sense of connection and belonging.
Ever since 2010, when Britain’s failed experiment with austerity began, thousands of cherished community spaces have been lost. According to UNISON, two thirds of council-run youth centres – more than 1000 centres in total – have closed over this period, creating a ‘lost generation’ of lonely, isolated young people.
The loss of these public spaces is undermining the bonds that tie us together and eroding the fabric of our communities. It is now harder than ever to find open, welcoming spaces in which to meet your neighbours, participate in activities, or just escape from the cold.
At a time of extreme division within our society, we’re losing some of the only places where people from completely different backgrounds can meet each other on neutral ground. This week, I spoke to a group of passionate campaigners in central London who are fighting to save one such space - the world’s first YMCA.
The Central YMCA a vital community resource, with a gym, a health and wellbeing centre, and plenty of space for people to just hang out. Its members love the building and everything it offers the community. But this thriving community hub is now under threat.
In December last year, the owners of the building announced that it had been sold to property developers Criterion Capital, which would be shutting down the club in February.
“It was a massive shock”, says Josh, one of the campaigners fighting to save the club.
“They called us into a meeting that lasted about 5 minutes and announced that the YMCA had been sold to a hotel. It was essentially a deal that had been done in secrecy. We were absolutely incredulous.”
Members didn’t take the news lying down. They came together to start a campaign – Save our YMCA – which has gained remarkable support over a short period of time.
“First, we set up a petition, and that’s got nearly 8,000 signatures. Then, we managed to have the Central YMCA listed as an asset of community value, which is going to make it much harder for the new owners to change the building’s use.”
One of the club’s members, Patrick Joy, a 70-year-old retired postman who relies on the club for muscular rehab, has even taken legal measures to try to stop the closure.
“He’s an amazingly brave man”, Josh tells me. “He tried to set up a meeting with Criterion but that fell through, so he felt he had to go to the High Court.”
The YMCA’s members are so passionate about saving the space because of what it offers the local community.
“It’s not just a piece of real estate,” says Josh. “It’s a place of extraordinary value to the community.
“We have the largest older adults programme in England. It offers exercise programmes, day trips, rehab. We have something called positive health, which is a HIV referral programme, so a lot of the hospitals rely on us. The University College Hospital refers people for rehab programmes. And there’s rooms other organisations can rent out – so we have a stroke support group, AA meetings.
“There’s also an enormous range of activities for young people – it kind of acts like a youth club. 10 schools rely on us for their PE facilities. We have a 25-meter swimming pool where the kids can learn to swim – and that’s all under threat.”
The club operates in an area of huge social and cultural diversity, and provides one of the few spaces where residents from different backgrounds can interact.
“The thing about Central YMCA is that every member of the community, all religions, all backgrounds, are welcome. There’s something for everyone.”
Save our YMCA is currently asking for a 6 month pause on the closure of the building so stakeholders can come together to develop a long-term plan that preserves the community value the space provides. But they’ve faced immense resistance from those who stand to profit from the sale.
Despite Criterion’s insistence that they care about the community, they have so far refused to meet with the campaign. And Josh says that the decision makers within the YMCA don’t even use the club, so they don’t understand its value.
Patrick’s attempt to prevent the sale through legal measures failed last week when the High Court refused to grant an injunction. The campaign is now resorting to new tactics to force Criterion to the table
“We’ve staged things like dance offs outside the YMCA with the YMCA dance. And we’ve even been in contact with the Prime Minister.”
The Central YMCA is in Sir Keir Starmer’s constituency. The Prime Minister has said he was ‘shocked’ by news of the sale but he has yet to intervene to support the campaign.
“We’re asking Keir Starmer to help us bring about a six month pause to the closure and to enable a meeting with the new owner. If we could just set up a conversation, that would enable us to come up with a long-term future for the space. It might not be under the same name, but it could still be of value to the community.”
Josh tells me that he is optimistic about growing the campaign beyond central London, because it isn’t just about the YMCA. It’s about protecting the extremely valuable and fragile ties that hold Londoners together.
“The same thing is happening all across London. There are similar campaigns to save Prince Charles Cinema and Jubilee Hall. These places, they can’t be allowed to go, because London will not be the same without them.
“There won’t be anything left for the community, London will just be full of hotels. We’ve already seen what the effects of that have been in certain parts of London. And I don’t think Keir Starmer wants that to be his legacy.”
Follow the Save our YMCA campaign: https://www.instagram.com/saveourymca/
Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/save-the-central-ymca