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When you first meet David Clarke, Team Member at YMCA Cheltenham’s Sports Centre, you are likely to notice his easy smile and the warmth in his voice. Behind that smile is a story as remarkable as it is unexpected, a story of faith, chance and finding purpose.
A Journey Led by Faith
David was not actively looking for a role at YMCA Cheltenham when his story began. At the time, he was working part-time at Trinity Church and felt he needed another job to support himself. One morning, after a prayer meeting, a trusted friend encouraged him to listen for where God might be leading him.
Later that day, sitting in a coffee shop, David read passages about taking new steps. Inspired, he prayed a simple prayer: which way should I walk, left or right?
He recalls, “The snow was glistening off the YMCA sign and I thought, why haven’t I thought of this place before?”
Drawn by that moment, he approached the building, tried the doors, and eventually decided to call the number on the sign. As he did, a man in a suit walked up and asked if he needed help. That man turned out to be David Wallace, the CEO of YMCA Cheltenham.
“It just had to be that moment. I wasn’t planning to go past, but it felt like I was being led here,” David says.
A few months later, he went through what he jokingly calls the “worst interview ever.” His first answer was a reference to the famous song, only to be told, “that wasn’t us.” Still, he got the job. “It’s another miracle I got past the interview really… and now I’m here today.”
From Dream to Reality
David’s work quickly grew into more than just a job. He began supporting homeschool PE sessions at the Sports Centre and discovered a passion that had always been there. “I would love to have been a PE teacher. To get to do this, it really feels like a dream come true.”
These sessions are not just about fitness. They are about building character and community. Every week, the children reflect on their highlights and nominate someone for the Sports Personality of the Session award for kindness, honesty, encouragement or sportsmanship.
“It reinforces the culture we’re trying to build,” David explains. “The kids choose who’s been kind, honest, welcoming or sporting. It’s theirs. And that makes it powerful.”
The award itself is a modest, solid-gold-plastic trophy that gets proudly passed around week by week.
The Power of Community
David has seen first-hand how YMCA Cheltenham fosters connection. He highlights the men’s walking football group as a perfect example.
“Outside of a pub or football match, I don’t think there’s anywhere else men would regularly come together like this. It’s fun, but it’s also about being there for each other.”
For some, that means support during illness. “One man shared he’d been diagnosed with cancer. Another player said, ‘You’ll get through this, I did.’ He’s still out there, playing. That kind of hope and encouragement is huge.”
For David, it is this sense of belonging that sets YMCA Cheltenham apart. “You’re not just a name on a membership card. Here, we know most of our members’ names. And when you walk in, you hear laughter, conversation, community. That’s different from most sports centres.”
A Culture of Positivity
David believes the team culture makes the YMCA a special place to work. Known affectionately as “the smiley team,” his colleagues set the tone.
“Joel’s always smiling, always got time for people. It’s infectious. Negativity spreads, but so does positivity. And here, the culture is to lift each other up.”
That culture is grounded in YMCA’s values of integrity, inclusion and service. David sees it not as words on paper but as something lived out daily. “We’re not about targets and sales. We’re about doing the right thing, showing grace, being understanding. And when that’s modelled by leadership, it flows through the whole team.”
Stories That Stay With You
There are moments that stand out. David remembers one resident who had always played football at the Sports Centre, even when unwell. After the man’s passing, YMCA Cheltenham supported his family and held a memorial football match in his honour.
“It showed me how this place really comes together for people, not just in life, but afterwards too.”
170 Years of Hope
As YMCA Cheltenham marks 170 years of service, David reflects on what it means to be part of that history.
“If you’ve been saved from life on the streets, given a roof and a pathway forward, that’s life-changing. Sometimes people fall back, but they’re given another chance. That scaffolding of support is what makes the difference.”
Asked to sum up YMCA Cheltenham in a single word, David does not hesitate:
💜 “Hope.”
“I’d like people to remember how we made them feel, cared for, supported, encouraged. If that encourages them to go out and do the same for others, then that’s the real legacy.”