Birmingham YMCA has recruited 360^o agency Big Cat Group to support them in an ambitious fundraising project. The target £1.5 million to be raised will enable the YMCA to build community facilities that will feature as part of the £13.5 million re-development of the current site on Reservoir Road, Erdington.

BigCat will be project managing aspects of the fundraising activity including implementing a sponsorship strategy and promoting the 18-month fundraising project through an extensive PR campaign.  BigCat were selected to assist the YMCA after the delivery of a successful PR campaign in 2008, where BigCat helped to promote the objectives of the re-development, helping the YMCA to secure the existing £12 million.

The youth and community centre, part of the scheme called The Orchard, will house facilities including a multi-use sports hall, training and meeting rooms and a ‘chill-out’ space for young people.  These facilities have been designed to create a platform for YMCA residents to integrate themselves productively into society, through voluntary activity and paid work at the project.

(Left) Anthony Tattum, Marketing & Communications Director, BigCat. (Right) Alan Fraser, CEO, Birmingham YMCA.

Costs for the Erdington development are estimated to be approximately £13.5 million, of which £12 million has already been secured.  The scheme has been included in Birmingham City Council’s ‘Places of Change’ programme – a national initiative to create places of change for formerly homeless people, and help integrate them back into the community.