The YMCA Reading Milward Sports Centre first opened its doors in 1953.  Its primary purpose over the years has been to provide sport and leisure space for YMCA residents, local Youth Groups and other community organisations.

Milward is still used to this day to provide a large variety of groups with space, but is has been neglected for many years and has had no significant updates since the 1970's.  

We are raising funds now to completely renovate the building in order to provide:

-New heating

-A new roof (we have now done the roofing roof)

-Disabled access

-Modern toilets and changing facilities

-A complete repaint and refresh

We hope that once the work is done the space will be much more attractive to an even wider range of community groups.

We are grateful to the following organisations that have pledged money to this cause: Sport England, Clothworkers Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation,The Shanly Foundation, The Laing Family Trust, Peter Baker Foundation, Hobson Trust, and Helen Robertson Family Trust.

YMCA Reading's primary function is to provide supported accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds.  We also try to encourage them to make best use of the facilities in Milward Sports Centre, but at the moment they are not very attracted to it.  We hope that once the work is done to provide dedicated activities for their benefit.

YMCA Reading welcomes the community to our site on Parkside Road where we also run:

- the Parkside Cafe which is a very popular cafe with soft play area for toddlers.

- The Parkside Pre-school, Early Years Learning for children aged 2-4 years.

- Our Workshop Alternative Learning for kids at risk of expulsion from school.

- The Padworth Outdoor Activity Centre is our woodland learning and camp centre based in woodland in Padworth just over the Berkshire Hampshire border.