Doncaster Charity Awarded Child Friendly Status 

Green Gables, YWCA Yorkshire, has been awarded the ‘Child Friendly Quality Mark’ from Doncaster City Council and the Youth Advisory Board as part of the Child Friendly Doncaster initiative. 

Child Friendly Doncaster is a borough-wide initiative designed to support Doncaster’s goal to become the ‘most child friendly borough in England’. 

To receive the ‘child friendly status’ Green Gables completed training and gathered evidence of their approach to supporting children and families. The initiative has been designed by Young Advisors and is led by the Youth Advisory Board. The award and associated ‘quality mark’ is recognised across Doncaster and will act to inform partners and supporters of the exemplary standards upheld by the charity. 

YWCA Yorkshire Green Gables Project Manager, Janine Egan, said: “We pride ourselves on the inclusive, compassionate and expert approach we take to supporting women, children and families. This award is all-the-more special to us because it has been co-designed with young people and it is the young people of Doncaster that have deemed Green Gables to be child-friendly. It shows that children and young people feel safe and welcome in our spaces.” 

In 2022, Doncaster Council released a 2022-2025 Children and Young People Plan, designed, and written by young people for young people. It sets out the strategic priorities for the Council and outlines the opportunities and challenges for young people in Doncaster. Child Friendly Doncaster is an ambition within this plan. It aims to make Doncaster a safe, happy, healthy, connected, and inclusive place for all children and young people. 

Green Gables in Mexborough has been supporting young women, children and families to thrive since 2004. In partnership with Together Housing, the Green Gables team have a remit to provide safe accommodation and wrap-around support in five houses and eight self-contained apartments, as well as vital support to more families in the community.  

Commissioned by Doncaster Council and delivered by YWCA Yorkshire, Green Gables supports 75 families locally. The expert team partners with organisations across South Yorkshire to share knowledge and skills to help people live successful and independent lives.