Building Successful Partnerships - YWCA Yorkshire and Northern College

YWCA Yorkshire Chief Executive, Tracy Gollins, shares experiences building strategic relationships with a likeminded charity. 

Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Northern College at their spectacular grade 1 listed Wentworth Castle campus. Just ten minutes on the bus from Barnsley town centre, Wentworth Castle is surrounded by 500 acres of National Trust gardens and parkland.  Run in partnership with Barnsley Council and The National Trust - this is a location like no other!  

Unbelievably, it’s 25 years since YWCA Yorkshire last visited Northern College. Back then we attended a team-building residential. This time, we were there meeting with Principal and Chief Executive Emma Beal to discuss adult learning and skills provision locally, and to explore various partnership opportunities between our two South Yorkshire-based charities.  

We’d re-connected with Emma Beal on International Women's Day and very quickly realised the synergy between our organisational values and missions. Emma generously invited us to visit Northern College and we in turn welcomed Emma to our homeless women’s hostel; Peile House. Across South Yorkshire we support more than 250 women, children and families through Peile House in Sheffield, Green Gables in Doncaster and Fleming Gardens in Rotherham.  

Northern College provides a range of residential and non-residential courses to adults aged 19 and over. With over 4,000 student registrations a year, the college is accessed by people from a broad community base. With most of the courses offered free at the point of access, the syllabus is designed to support learners who have experienced low incomes and unemployment. Their mission is ‘inspiring positive change through adult education’. Our mission is ‘creating a better future for women, children and families’. You can see how well we align! 

During our visits we explored the possibility of Northern College student placements within our residential settings as well as adult learning and mental health and wellbeing opportunities for the people we support, YWCA Yorkshire staff teams and volunteers.  

It felt good to spend time with such a progressive charity that supports people to make long-term change through education and skills development. Watch this space - I have a feeling that this is just the beginning of a super-productive South Yorkshire partnership.