YWCA = Platform 51

The Young Women's Christian Association, which is one of Britain's oldest charities, has dropped the word "Christian" from its name to better reflect its role in society.  Instead, the YWCA, which was set up in 1855 to help young women going to London for the first time, has now become "Platform 51".

The name was chosen because 51% of people are female and "women use us as a platform for having their say and for helping them into the next stage of their lives".  The rebranding is likely to raise questions among the charity's donors, many of whom give to it because of the organisation's Christian links.

However, officials at the World YWCA headquarters in Geneva said none of the 124 branches in other countries intended to follow suit.  The spokesburd said:

"We are not even discussing a change. We see our name as an opportunity for promoting Christian values and principles."

I wonder what the YMCA intend to do- and if the Village People intend to re-write their hit?  Altogether now, "It's fun to stay at the YMCA"...