What is YWCA?
The YWCA is a charity working with disadvantaged young women in England and Wales (YWCA Scotland is a separate organisation). It concentrates on combating problems faced by women aged 11 to 30, such as poverty, drug addiction, violence and racism.
Where is it based?
YWCA's headquarters are in Oxford and it has 13 women-only centres across the UK from Truro in Cornwall to Doncaster in Yorkshire.
What jobs are available?
YWCA employs more than 200 staff across England and Wales. About 40 staff work at its head office in Oxford where its communications, fundraising, HR and policy departments are based. It employs various project workers as well as creche staff.
Are some jobs only open to women?
Given the sensitive nature of some of the work carried out at the centres, some roles have exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act.
Is training available?
YWCA has a learning and development budget and encourages all staff to use it.
What skills does YWCA look for?
Project workers are expected to be JNC qualified or equivalent, while creche staff should have NNEB qualifications or equivalent.
What is the package like?
Full-time staff usually work 35 hours a week on a flexitime system. Annual leave entitlement is six weeks. YWCA launched two levels of pension contributions in 2005, with a lower level of three per cent contribution to recognise the difficulty that part-time staff had in accessing pensions.
Will I have heard of them recently?
YWCA's ongoing More Than One Rung campaign aims to improve the chances for disadvantaged young women to progress from the lowest paid jobs in society. YWCA is also lobbying MPs to support its motion to provide more safe women-only spaces.
