For the third year running YMCA has won the Community Excellence Award at the annual NZ Exercise Industry Awards.

Lynfield Youth & Leisure Centre managed by YMCA was honoured at the industry awards night on 25 November for its range of services aimed at getting locals active, as well as its outreach work to encourage physical activity in the wider community.

Other YMCA award recipients on the night included YMCA North Shore who received the NZ Register of Exercise Professionals Award in recognition of their customer focus and range of services that look after and celebrate seniors. YMCA fitness manager Julia Laulu Faalogo also received the Outstanding Support Award for her peer support and leadership skills.

YMCA Lynfield was the fourth YMCA facility to receive the Community Excellence Award from Exercise New Zealand. The award honours any individual or organisation who breaks down barriers to exercise participation in populations that would normally find access difficult. YMCA Hamilton and YMCA Auckland City's fitness classes for seniors received the award in 2015, and Mt Albert Community and Leisure Centre managed by YMCA received the award in 2016.

YMCA Group Manager of Recreation in Auckland and Hamilton Graham Hill said winning the award for the third year running is testament to YMCA’s commitment to ensure everyone has access to healthy living opportunities.

“YMCA is a not-for-profit organisation, and in the past 12 months YMCA Lynfield has provided over $17,000 worth of fee assistance to help individuals and groups access exercise and wellbeing programmes at the facility,” Hill said.

“Of course none of this would be possible without the ongoing support of Puketāpapa Local Board and Auckland Council who have entrusted YMCA to manage this outstanding community facility.”

Hill also acknowledged the local communities in which YMCA operates and YMCA customers, saying the industry recognition across the three award categories at this year’s NZ Exercise Industry Awards was a reflection of their support.