We are delighted to launch the brand new YMCA Chaplaincy Essentials Training Course, developed in partnership between YMCA Ireland and YMCA England & Wales. This six-week online programme has been created for those who are exploring chaplaincy and for anyone drawn to offering thoughtful, compassionate presence within YMCA contexts.

Chaplaincy within YMCA has a tangible and sometimes quiet impact. For staff teams, chaplains provide presence and space for reflection. Someone with whom they can talk honestly and openly, and be met as a whole person, not just a professionas. For service users, chaplaincy offers non-judgemental listening and accompaniment at moments of transition, challenge, or vulnerability. And for communities, chaplains help strengthen connection, belonging, and hope, often working gently at the edges where people may not easily access other forms of support.

This training has been shaped by the experience of chaplains currently serving across YMCA settings in the UK and Ireland, alongside learning from wider pastoral, youth work, and wellbeing practice. Together, we recognised the need for a high-quality, accessible starting point- one that is grounded in real-world chaplaincy, rooted in YMCA values, and clear about what good practice looks like.

Delivered fully online from February, the course runs over six weeks (with a three week break for Easter) and brings together a small learning cohort from across the UK and Ireland. Each module has clear learning outcomes and combines teaching input, group discussion, reflective practice, and practical skills development. Topics include understanding chaplaincy in YMCA contexts, boundaries and safeguarding, preparing for meaningful conversations, looking after yourself in a caring role, and exploring where faith and spirituality are encountered in the everyday life of a YMCA.

Participants will be supported throughout the course by experienced tutors, with opportunities to ask questions, test out ideas, and reflect honestly on what chaplaincy involves. Skills practice is built into the programme, helping learners develop confidence in listening, presence, and ethical decision-making. Alongside live sessions, participants will be provided with guided further reading and resources to deepen learning at their own pace.

The course is designed to support discernment as well as development. Some trainees may go on to explore voluntary chaplaincy roles within YMCA settings; others may find that the learning enriches their existing work in youth work, housing, pastoral care, or community roles. Either way, the focus is on equipping people to offer care safely, attentively, and with integrity.

We are particularly keen to invite individuals in the Greater Dublin and Cork City areas, especially if you feel drawn to voluntary service as a chaplain in a YMCA in those regions.

Read more about YMCAs Chaplaincy programme here