This establishment has no idea how to treat it's volunteers with respect and care. I was one of several people (whom I personally know) who worked as volunteer instructors for many years and when we left weren't given so much as a thank you for our time and dedication. I volunteered as a dance teacher and also worked as a paid yoga instructor for 14 years. In that time I know for a fact that some of the members maintained their memberships in order to attend just my classes. In terms of money I brought into the club from members renewing memberships and the salary they saved from not paying me to teach I must have been worth at the very least £25, 000, but probably more, over the years. When I left I requested an honorary membership so that if I ever wanted to come into the club to see my friends I could do so without having to explain who I was to the ever changing reception staff. They agreed but after 18 months they cancelled my membership. Trying to speak to Rosi Prescott is akin to getting hold of the Prime Minister - I couldn't get direct access. I was told I could call her PA who then told me I couldn't email Rosi directly I had to go through the PA. When I got a reply it came from Barry Cronin first and then later Rosi emailed me herself, but both of them told me the same thing: my honorary membership should not have been renewed; they treat all their volunteers the same (which is ludicrous as how can you claim that volunteering for 6 months is the same as volunteering for 14 years?); the club can't afford to give everyone who works for them an honorary membership; and a whole lot of statistics about how many people volunteer for them; and they claimed that anybody who had left and not been thanked for their volunteering was an oversight as they claim to look after their volunteers. They clearly didn't read my responses to their emails as I pointed out that I wasn't asking for everyone to get access to the club, just me; it would cost them nothing, not a penny, for me to use the facilities and in fact I had only been into the club 3 times over the year that I was allowed in; they clearly don't look after ex-volunteers and they had not to my knowledge ever said thank you to any long term volunteers. I pointed out that they were the most uncharitable charitable organisation I've encountered and they use people with impunity before tossing them aside and moving onto the next batch of volunteers. As for not being able to afford to give me a membership, it's remarkable that they were in debt when I taught there and even when they got out of debt and started buying plasma TV screens and tons of new equipment they still wouldn't pay their teachers. Ironic. I'm sickened by their attitude towards volunteers and suggest you only volunteer there for what you can get out of it because they'll do nothing to thank you when you leave.

i went to ymca in southend, i could nt get parked no permit given, plus we get 25 pound to travel, how much to park nowadays. A huge half empty carpark to rear of the building cheers! Then i go on to say i sat up there on my arse for 6 weeks almost 7 if i diddn't take a job sooner the job i went for did not work out . I see people up there bieng ill rushed to hospital i mean i don't want to see that i just want to get back to work .I wanted to do my lgv training but had sat there everyday for 6 weeks for the medical i had seen too much and had enough by then. I was starting to feel ill myself and made a promise you all have wasted my time and i hope it shuts down because nothing in there gets done or ever finished i was ment to learn a theory test but can go on there computers for 15 mins thats no good .They had about 30 computers for more than 70 people its never going to work out .Alot of things britan has stopped making and sitting in a classroom reading 1 to 2 month old newspapers just aint going to help people find work lodgic?

As much as I enjoyed working with the children and was proud of the position I held, I could not believe that such a reputable organization would in fact be the opposite of the reputation that I had so often heard about and trusted.

Thousands of parents rely on the integrity and popularity associated with the YMCA name. Known for it's Christian based community and family services. However, last year I applied for a position as an after school counselor and was hired. I was assigned to a nearby elementary school.

Within days of my start, the site's supervisor (s.s), who had been active in this position for many years, was the target in an ethical tug-of-war with the branch supervisor (b.s). This guy (b.s) was very aggressive toward the children. During his visits, at this particular school, he assigned consequences for children if they talked out, weren't facing forward, ect... The consequence, of this particular situation, was for the child to sit out the entire outside play period. The (s.s) worker allowed the child to return to play after the guideline's (employee training manual) normal 10 minutes had expired. She (s.s) stated that the (b.s) time assignment was too extensive and undeserved. Which, it was. And that was the battle that led to her (s.s) dismissal.

He (b.s) would have several visits to the site where he would speak harshly to the children and have them sit out and/or lose activities because of normal child behaviors. We (staff) were advised to be as harsh and were told that if they (the children) didn't like it and wanted their parents to take them to a different program, so be it. He (s.s) stated that there was a long waiting list of parents waiting for an opening in this program.

There was a child about 10 years in age at this school with special needs, he was bi-polar. The child would have episodes that would require extra help and direction from the counselors. He was written up often for this and his mother would be notified while at work, to come for him. The last time I saw her, after he (b.s) spoke with her about a meeting that would be held to discuss the continuance of her child in the program, she tried to walk out with her head up but her eyes were filled with tears. I was emotionally affected and had to excuse myself for a breather.

That day, after all the children had gone home, there was a meeting. One of the points made by the (b.s) was that something needed to be done so that this child, with special needs, would not be able to continue in the program. To be blunt, "have him kicked out". I stated the unfairness and pointed out that his mother may have no other alternative, while she was working. I was informed that this was not our problem.

By this time, my rose colored glasses had been crushed. I was filled with disappointment and felt like I was working for a deceitful company that was hiding secrets. If my child was receiving this sort of treatment, paid treatment, I would be pissed!

Aside from all this, I had been working for over 5 weeks and had not yet receive a paycheck. After I discontinued working with them, my last check should have been 2 full weeks but was only $15. I called and called to resolve this as was eventually informed that the funds were taken to pay for a full month of insurance benefits. Coverage that I never received any information about activation of (not a card, a packet, a phone #...nothing) and was never able to use.

I spoke with a prospective future employer, who asked me about my departure from the YMCA and when I explained, he stated that unfortunately he had heard similar complaints from former YMCA employees before and what a shame it was.

The YMCA have a Discriminatory policy in place whereby if your forced to stay in one due to being made homeless you may not apply to work in the building. Even if they have Jobs advertised on the notice board when you go in.

The YMCA promotes itself as being a Christian Charity but it doesn't seem very christian to tell a homeless person who's in dire need of employment they may not have a Job because they're staying in the building!

Discrimination means treating some people differently from others. It isn't always unlawful - after all, people are paid different wages depending on their status and skills. However, there are certain reasons for which your employer can't discriminate against you by law.