How YWAF works
The Trustees are Nick May, Keith Wetherill, Ann Ralls, Sue Crisfield, Jane Copestake, Jackie Garbett, Janeanne Mullane, and Michael Ralls who meet bi-monthly and are joined by a representative from YMCA Brunel Group. We pride ourselves on being flexible and able to respond rapidly if needed. Many funding requests are dealt with at the meetings, but if an urgent request comes to us, a round-robin email to the Trustees can generally have a decision within 24-48 hours, with funding and grants obtained and given within one week. Grants are given unconditionally and with as much dignity to the young person as possible – there is no means-testing, just a request from a support worker will suffice.
Our main source of income each year comes from our lovely team of 36 volunteers who work at Glastonbury Festival, giving out Bags for Life at the entry gates and with various stewarding jobs. In 2025 we received £5,645 for their efforts! In 2026, Glastonbury Festival has a fallow year, so we are stepping up our fund-raising efforts. We have an annual film sing-along event (Mamma Mia! In 2025 and Grease in 2026), and each year we have a quiz night on the last Sunday evening in January in Shepton Mallet Art Bank, as well as an annual Christmas appeal. Our Every Penny Counts appeal raises several hundred each year, where people collect their loose change in a jamjar and donate it to us!
The foundations of the Trust lie within the Christian faith and each of the trustees are motivated by this to care for people in distress and difficulty - to be the hands and feet of Jesus - to bring the compassion of God into people's lives.
Our Patron
Karen Deverell
After living abroad as a child due to my Father being in the Armed Forces, my family settled in Wells and I have raised two children who have both long flown the nest.
I started working for YMCA Mendip in 1994 as an Advice Worker and soon took on a Management role helping to develop services. A few years on I was appointed as Chief Executive; a role that provided me wonderful opportunity to shape and develop services for young people and the not so young in housing, support and youth work. I consider it a privilege to have worked with and for vulnerable people in my community and lead the organisation through the highs and lows of a charitable business although, overwhelmingly, the highs outweighed the lows! I have a deep concern for those in this community, who are isolated, disconnected and vulnerable and am passionate about the work of voluntary and community groups who are critical in the work to change lives and to enable a brighter future . In 2019 I finally plucked up the courage to leave the security and comfort of the YMCA to become a Foster Carer, a role I am finding both rewarding and challenging in equal measure.
I have worked in partnership with YWAF for many years and am filled with grateful admiration for its volunteers who have worked tirelessly for so many years for young people
We are delighted to hear that our patron Karen Deverell has received an MBE for services to young people in Somerset in the New Year's Honours list 2020. We are so proud of her and offer her our warmest congratulations!