About Us
Health & Fitness
Centre Facilities
Centre Activities
Family & Kids
Events
Based in Loose, Maidstone we provide a range of sporting activities for people of all ages and abilities. Our wide programme ensures we have activities to suit everyone.
Here at Maidstone YMCA, we aim to provide a welcome to members for themselves, in a meeting place which is theirs to share, where friendships can be made and counsel sought. We also develop activities which stimulate and challenge its members in an environment that enables them to take responsibility and find a sense of achievement. Involve all members in care and work for others.
Create opportunities for exchanging views, so that its members can improve their understanding of the world, of themselves and of one another.
Our history
The origins of Maidstone YMCA can be traced back to a public meeting at the Town Hall on January 15th 1855, where the Maidstone Church of England Young Men’s Society was formed.
In June 1879 the Society bought a plot of land in Union Street which became the Church Institute Building. At the same time the Society changed it’s name to Maidstone Church Institute.
In 1935, the Church Institute invited the YMCA to become involved with the running of Institute Building. Again this involved a name change to Maidstone Church Institute and YMCA.
In 1965 the Building in Union Street was sold to Littlewoods stores and the proceeds were used to build the Sports Centre at Melrose Close in Loose.
In 1972 the Church Institute was wound up and Maidstone Church Institute and YMCA became solely Maidstone YMCA.
In 2002, faced with an old building and lack of funds, the YMCA closed its doors as a Public Sports Centre. However this was not the end. In 2011 we re-opened our doors to a new Leisure Centre on the original site in Loose.