Timeline

1855
Prayer union and home for young women established

Emma Roberts formed a Prayer Union in London for young women and girls of all classes. Mary Jane Kinnaird also opened a home with Evangelical purpose in London for young women away from their home.

1859
Prayer group comes to Edinburgh

The Edinburgh branch of the prayer group was founded in 1859 in direct connection with The Prayer Union that began in London in 1855.

1877
January 1877: Emma Roberts and Mary Jane Kinnaird unite their initiatives under the name YWCA.

Mrs Gordon became president of the ‘Scotch’ Division. In 1877 there were YWCA Institutes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness who were founded and run independently of each other.

1884
The first YWCA Institute in Edinburgh is established on Young Street

In 1884 a draft constitution of the Edinburgh Young Women’s Christian Institute was first drawn up.

1885
Offices move to George Street

The ‘Scotch Divisional Council’, originally set up at 2a Shadwick Place in Edinburgh under Mrs. Gordon’s presidency, moved its office in 1885 to 116 George Street.

1886
Mrs. Gordon resigns as president of The Scotch Divisional Council.

A Council meeting on 28th May 1886 at 19 Young Place confirmed that there were now 154 YWCA branches in Scotland alone.

1914
YWCA is registered as a company

A company was registered as YWCA of Great Britain, which provided the legal form of the Association.

1919
1919-1924: Christian values debate

Period of debate regarding the Christian values and Evangelical ethos of the YWCA.

1924
April 1924: YWCA Scotland is formed

The Scottish Council seceded from the YWCA of Great Britain and formed YWCA Scotland. This was when our organisation officially began.

1928
Universal Suffrage

The Equal Franchise Act of 1928 granted equal voting rights to women and men. As a result, both men and women could vote at the age of 21.

1929
Lochend Centre created in Edinburgh

Lochend Centre Edinburgh was created to assist with building community spirit in a new housing scheme in Edinburgh.

1930
The Great Depression

The YWCA accepted grant aid and became part of the National Youth Service during a period of mass unemployment.

1939
1939-1945: The Second World War

During WW2, YWCA GB member, Jeanette Palmer, wore an army uniform and illegally drove a van across the border to Switzerland from England to save the YWCA archives from destruction during the war.

1942
1939-1945: YWCA open hostels for “land girls”

The YWCA Collaborated with women service units during the war. From 1942 the YWCA opened 88 hostels for “land girls” – women who worked on farms in place of men who were serving in the military.

1955
“Dolls of the Nation” Exhibition
A suitcase full of fabric dolls

“Dolls of the Nation” exhibition included our dolls at the YWCA GB centenary celebrations in Edinburgh in 1955.

1967
Abortion is legalised under specific conditions

Abortion Act legalising abortion under specific conditions in England, Scotland and Wales. The Young Women’s Movement was campaigning with Let’s Change the Act Scotland to decriminalise abortion.

Contraception access expands

Family Planning Act passed which enabled local health authorities to provide contraception to all women regardless of marital status.

1968
1969
YWCA Scotland amends its aims to be more inclusive

The aims of our YWCA Scotland were amended to include “Recognising the equal value in God’s sight of all human beings without distinction of race, nationality or religion”.

YWCA Scotland offices move to Randolph Place

YWCA Scotland Edinburgh Central Office moved from George Street to Randolph Place.

1970
1970s: Stella Reekie welcomes new Scots

Throughout the 1970s Stella Reekie welcomed new Scots to her international flat in Glasgow. Read more about Stella Reekie.

Equal Pay Act UK

The Equal Pay Act 1970 was the first piece of UK legislation which enshrined the right to pay equality between women and men.

1975
Sex Discrimination Act UK

Under the new legislation, it was illegal for employers, landlords, companies, schools and restaurants to discriminate based on sex or marital status.

Employment Protection Act

The Employment Protection Act passed which made it illegal to dismiss women for pregnancy and established rights to maternity leave.

1985
1987
1995
YWCA focuses on women under 30

From the mid-nineties there was a shift in the focus of the YWCA to focusing on young women in particular, with an emphasis on supporting women under 30.

1997
YWCA focuses on gender based violence

The fight against gender based violence became one of the priorities of the YWCA. The organisation began working closely with Zero Tolerance during this period.

1999
Scottish Parliament opens

Young women delegates attended the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

2010
Equality Act

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society bringing together key pieces of legislation, including the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976.

2011
Glasgow YWCA celebrate International Women’s Day

March 8th marked the 100th International Women’s Day – Glasgow YWCA celebrated with a show they performed to the community in Glasgow.

2014
Empowering Pathways programme launches

This programme is still one of the core programmes run by the YWM’s programmes team today. It allows women to have their voices heard, gain confidence and self-esteem, create positive relationships with other women in their group and celebrate their achievements. Find out more about Empowering Pathways.

YWCA Scotland becomes known as “YWCA Scotland – The Young Women’s Movement”

Although the debate surrounding the ‘C’ in YWCA began much earlier, in 2014 it was decided that it was no longer inclusive. The Glasgow Centre Joined YWCA Scotland and shortly after the organisation began to be known as ‘YWCA Scotland – The Young Women’s Movement’.

2015
Visual branding update

In 2015 we updated our visual branding to The Young Women’s Movement, although we were still known as YWCA Scotland.

YGirls Programme starts in schools.

Today, this programme exists as YEquality and is offered to primary seven pupils across Scotland.

2017
Young Women Lead programme launches

This programme is still one of the core programmes run by The Young Women’s Movement’s programmes team today. Our current CEO, Jenni Snell, was one of many to be a part of our Young Women Lead cohorts.

2018
YEquality is formed

YGirls and YBoys developed into YEquality which continues to run in schools today.

Merger with Ypeople

The Young Women’s Movement merged with Ypeople (renamed in 2022 to Right There).

100 years of suffrage celebration

100 for the 100th event ran by The Young Women’s Movement to celebrate 100 years of women getting the vote.

2019
Period Products Campaigning

The Young Women’s Movement hosted an event with Monica Lennon campaigning for the The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act.

2020
Young Women Know launches

The programme began as a partnership between The Young Women’s Movement and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

2021
2023
Rebrand

The Young Women’s Movement rebranded completely becoming The Young Women’s Movement with a new visual identity and the launch of a new strategic plan.

Explore the timeline

A history of YWCA Scotland from 1855 to present day.