The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in 1844 to provide a refuge for Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life in London. It may seem strange then, on first appearance, to discuss a charity founded to support men (and containing men in the title of the organisation!) in context of International Women’s Day. However, over the course of the YMCA’s history the relationship between itself and women has altered, and highlights the wider changing role of women in society.

Women’s Auxiliary

It took nearly 70 years, and the advent of the First World War, for women to become actively involved, at a large scale, within the YMCA movement. During the conflict the YMCA established huts and canteens for soldiers, munition workers, and others, which provided a place for convalescence and sanctuary. In December 1914 the YMCA Auxiliary Committee was founded to support this work, and other activities, with Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein as its President, and recruited thousands of female workers. By the middle of 1918 the organisation was provided its own constitution and named the YMCA Women’s Auxiliary with the functions:

‘1 To co-ordinate, and to confer on, all matters relating to the Women’s work for the YMCA.

2. To further the work of the Association.

3. To enlist and train women workers for the YMCA.

4. To co-operate in work, not only for Soldiers, but for discharged men.’

YMCA National Executive Committee minutes, 3 May 1918.

The Auxiliary was not intended to in any way to carry out work for women, but to be a representative of female workers for the YMCA. The Auxiliary was also proactive during the Second World War, supporting canteens and huts for soldiers and also for civilians during the Blitz.

During the inter-war period, and after the Second World War, the Auxiliary supported YMCA’s project work, including with young men and boys, and armed forces overseas. The Women’s Auxiliary were also key fundraisers for the YMCA through hosting events and activities.

The archives also contain the papers of individual women who served in the YMCA Women’s Auxiliary, including Dame Joan Marsham, one of the founders of the Auxiliary and Chairperson, 1931-1971; Katherine Penuel Macpherson who was Lady Superintendent of the YMCA Ladies Auxiliary hut at Etaples, 1915-1918; and Mrs M. L. Coles who was manageress of the YMCA canteen in Yatesbury, Wiltshire, during the Second World War. These papers often provide a personal perspective of the work which was being undertaken.