The YMCA in Australia has announced it has officially become “the Y” as part of a major brand refresh.

Governors from 15 individual YMCAs located across Australia voted to adopt a new brand and new logo when they convened less than two weeks ago at the organisation’s 102nd AGM of the National Council of YMCAs in Melbourne.

The logo change is the first in Australia in 52 years, and comes during a milestone year for the YMCA globally, which is celebrating its 175th birthday.

Said to be the largest and the oldest youth charity in the world, the organisation was originally founded by Sir George Williams in the city of London in 1844, whereupon it was known as the Young Men’s Christian Association. The first Australian branch opened later in 1851 in Adelaide.

“The new evolutionary logo pays tribute to our heritage and history maintaining the critical triangle element of the Y’s ‘Body Mind Spirit’ Mission, but also signals our new direction with a logo (designed by one of our own young people!) that is fresh and modern,” says national CEO, Melinda Crole.

“The new brand was created from the ground up, with hundreds of Y staff, volunteers and participants engaged in its development which started with agreeing that to be relevant today – we needed to be more relevant to young people.”

Following a pilot scheme in New South Wales and the Grampians, the new logo, which has been developed by 26-year-old graphic designer Adrian Sorbello, will begin to formally roll out in YMCAs across Australia.

Source: the Y