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Blogs

The alignment spiral: why talking about shared measurement sometimes feels like Groundhog Day

11 July 2025

The alignment spiral: why talking about shared measurement sometimes feels like Groundhog Day.

As one space closes, many more open

28 March 2025

In this final blog, Bethia McNeil reflects on the lessons and legacy of YMCA George Williams College.

Inclusive not intrusive: a call to act on demographic data practices

26 March 2025

Dr Peggy Warren and Catherine Mitchell share their final reflections on the E4P project, calling on youth sector partners to engage with the learning that has been shared and to work collaboratively, centring young people and practitioners, to improve demographic data practices.

What would be lost if there was no further evaluation in youth work?

23 August 2024

The College's Dom Weinberg ponders what the impact would be if we ceased evaluation in youth work.

Inspiring inclusion across the nations

12 March 2024

The College's Head of Research and Evaluation Liz Phillips shares learning on 'positive masculinity', an innovative approach driving forward critical support for boys and young men.

Creating consistent and intentional impact through youth social action at Student Hubs

23 February 2024

In this blog, Sophie Payne shares examples of how the team at Student Hubs have worked towards achieving the College’s Impact and Improvement Standards, and how the standards can support intentional design, delivery, and learning practices.

‘What’s in a name?’ – Data, duty, and the importance of honouring our stories

1 February 2024

For National Storytelling Week, Catherine Mitchell and Hannah Warsame explore the relationship between storytelling and data collection, and our duty towards the stories that sit behind our data.

Learning from collaborative outcome reporting approaches to evaluating youth voice

23 November 2023

In this latest read, YMCA George Williams College's Research Fellow Tom Burke reflects on his key takeaways from adopting a collaborative outcome reporting approach to evaluating youth voice, as part of our Establishing Youth Voice evaluation.

The Power of Diverse Voices Within the Workforce

1 September 2023

Now ten months into the role, the College’s Communications and Partnerships Assistant Erin Metcalfe reflects on her graduate journey to the College, and how investing in young people within your staff team can lead to greater impact.

Our Thoughts - Catherine Mitchell

31 May 2023

For this month’s Our Thoughts, our Organisational Learning and Support Lead Catherine Mitchell explores the application of empathy in the workplace to create enabling environments, and discusses how by doing so, we can enhance our support for our colleagues and young people. 

Authoring Our Own Stories Through the Power of Creative Thinking

9 May 2023

Partnership for Young London's Sandra Vacciana shares insights from a fascinating national youth recovery project co-created with young people, and tells us how creative approaches have helped enhance authenticity and youth voice within its findings.

Our Thoughts - The Team

15 December 2022

From organisational milestones, to new research and approaches, and further expansion of our free to access support package to the sector, it’s been quite the year at YMCA George Williams College. As we look back on all that we’ve learnt and achieved this year, we were keen for celebration to feature as part of our collective reflection. So, for this month’s ‘Our Thoughts’, we asked the team to share their own highlights of 2022.