City YMCA: FAQ and letter to Islington Gazette and Islington
Tribune
06 February 2012
Dear Editor,
The City of London Corporation has been working with the City
YMCA for the past 40 years, and we recognise the positive impact
that the work of the YMCA has had with the numerous young people
who have passed through the doors during this time.
We have been subsidising the City YMCA operation by way of a
peppercorn rent – with the original intention of letting rooms to
students of City organisations and young City workers. The
vast majority of students, now, however attend colleges based
outside the City, and only a very small proportion are young City
workers.
The YMCA England – the umbrella body under which the City branch
falls - has considered its position, and wants to discontinue the
tenancy which expired in May 2011. We have major concerns
over the condition of the building and there is a significant level
of disrepair in this grade II listed site (which represents a
breach of the lease) but to ease the transition, the City has
indicated that it might forgo the cost of the repairs, roughly
£1-2m.
We have made every effort to work with the parties involved in
order to reach a satisfactory outcome: we have agreed that the City
YMCA can continue to operate the premises until the end of
September, which will help with its forward planning and funding
needs. This will allow students at the hostel to leave in
early summer - and for the YMCA to raise significant funds by
renting the premises to students and visitors who wish to attend
the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The existing student accommodation does not meet our best
practice guidelines, and many of the students will need to find
their own alternative accommodation. We will be conducting a
full housing assessment for long-term residents in the building to
help meet their needs, but this will not apply for those who are
studying in London.
Housing needs in the City are complex, and are probably no
longer met by the traditional hostel model. We are actively
exploring future uses of the property, to meet the City’s needs
after appropriate refurbishment including looking at requirements
for key workers and social housing.
Reverend Dr Martin Dudley, Chairman of the City of
London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services
Committee
Download the Committee Report: Barbican YMCA –
Housing Issues and Lease Expiry (90k)
City YMCA FAQs
Q: What is the issue?
A: It is not clear that the traditional model of running
hostels in the City is an appropriate way to meet its housing
requirements; the building no longer meets the changing needs of
young people. YMCA England has considered its position, and after
discussions with the Corporation, has decided not to seek a renewal
of the lease on commercial terms. Accordingly we have been
working with YMCA England in order to make this transition
straight-forward.
We have worked well with the YMCA during this period, recognise
the positive impact the work that the YMCA has had with the
numerous young people who have passed through the doors and look
forward to working with the YMCA in the future.
Q: Why is the lease not being renewed?
A: The lease on the building came up for renewal in May
2011 and we have been in negotiation with the YMCA since then. We
have major concerns over the structural condition of the building
and the City has indicated that it would be prepared to forgo the
cost of outstanding repairs, which will cost between £1m and
£2m.
We have been subsidising the City YMCA operation by way of a
peppercorn rent – with the original intention of letting rooms to
students of City organisations and young City workers. The
vast majority of students, now, however attend colleges based
outside the City, and only 7% are young City workers.
Q: What are you doing to support the YMCA’s
withdrawal?
A: We have made every effort to work with the parties
involved in order to arrive at a satisfactory solution. To this end
we have agreed that the City YMCA can continue to operate the
premises until the end of September 2012, which will help with its
forward planning and funding needs. This will also allow
students at the hostel to finish their academic year - and for the
YMCA to raise significant funds by renting the premises to students
and visitors who wish to attend the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
We are working with the management to ensure that the students’
current academic year is not disrupted, and to address all of the
housing issues to fulfil the City obligations and meet the
residents’ needs.
Q: Will the City of London Corporation help with any
re-housing needs?
A: Any housing obligations that may presently arise are
manageable within our existing resources and we have effective
procedures to address all housing requests. The existing
student accommodation does not meet our best practice guidelines,
and many of the students will need to find their own alternative
accommodation. We will be conducting a full housing
assessment for long-term residents in the building to help meet
their needs. This will not apply for those who are
studying in London.
Q: Is the business model ‘outmoded’?
A: Large hostels of this kind are difficult to run and
increasingly rare; in general both the City of London and feel that
the benefit of the YMCA operating model is not cost effective in
this particular property and that we could better use our resources
to meet social needs in a different, more targeted, way.
Q: What are you going to do with the building once it is
vacated?
A: We are actively exploring future uses of the property,
to meet the City’s needs after appropriate refurbishment including
looking at requirements for key workers and social housing.
Q: What is YMCA England’s position?
A: The lease on the property expired in May 2011 and both
YMCA England and the City of London Corporation believe that the
building has served its time and no longer meets the changing needs
of the young people there.