The YMCA's strategy will attempt to address a variety of community issues, including sectarianism, health promotion, segregated communities and paramilitary activity. It is hoped that the strategy will help develop trust across different communities.
Mark Hammond, community relations co-ordinator at Portadown YMCA, said: "Youth work in a contested society like Northern Ireland needs sensitivity, regardless of whether it is a single community environment or a cross-community environment."
Terry Watson is joining Portadown YMCA this week to help implement the strategy. He was previously director of programmes at Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Northern Ireland.
He said: "Part of the remit at the YMCA will be to build communities where it touches on young people's issues, and to respect everyone for who they are, as members of the community."
The strategy follows a survey conducted in January with local stakeholders including young people, churches, schools and the statutory youth service.
The survey asked what issues young people wanted addressed and found that they wanted access to a youth centre and youth services.
The start of work to implement the strategy coincides with Portadown YMCA's youth centre reopening as a full-time venue after several months of staff shortages.
