Sam came into the Youthline Auckland Central Centre because he was cold, tired and lonely.

A few days before, he and his mum had a fight about doing the dishes. It ended the way arguments at his place often ended - his mum's boyfriend hit him until he blacked out. When he woke up, he left.

"I'm scared," he said.

"I don't have anywhere to go. I don't feel safe at home and I can't go back there."

Sam had spent the past few days sleeping rough, trying to come up with a plan. It had been raining hard, and he was soaking wet. His voice cracked while he was telling me about his tumultuous relationship with his mum. He couldn't think of anyone who would help him, and even with his staunch attitude, he couldn't hide his distress.

We talked about his unstable home life, where he could go and where he went last time. I struggled to put myself in his position. It's hard to stay positive while imagining the loneliness, isolation and helplessness in a situation like this.

The street isn't a safe place for a seventeen year old.

Last time this happened, Sam slept at his friends place for a few days, but he couldn't stay there forever. He ended up sleeping in the doorway of an office building. He joined the hundreds of other people in Auckland who sleep rough every night. Many of them have stories similar to Sam's. Without support from parents, family, friends, school and the community, they have limited options. 

Transient youth are often stereotyped as troublemakers who don't want to live by their parents rules, but no young person chooses to live on the streets. While they speak of the decision to sleep rough as a choice, so often it's because of a lack of other options. Many come from backgrounds with very limited access to the basic we take for granted. Sometimes they have been forced out of their home, or, like Sam, they have fled because it's a safer alternative to the neglect, violence and abuse they face at home.

They are just scared and vulnerable young people in incredibly tough situations.

At Youthline, we provide support to all young people who need it. Sometimes it's through a phone call on our Helpline, sometimes we're approached at a school, and sometimes a young person will wander into one of our Centres with nowhere else to go. Finding emergency accommodation is the starting point, but these young people need the alongside support that Youthline provides as well. Our Youth Workers are the ones who stand next to young people like Sam - link them to agencies, provide ongoing support, help them transition into education or employment, and spend time working through the stuff they are facing in their lives. Having someone to help out with things like getting financial aid without a permanent address, or finding a place to have a hot shower, can make a big difference.

Several times a week young people in similar circumstances come into our Centres and ask for help. Many of the temporary accommodation options that are available for adults are unsuitable for youth, especially young women. Through our community networks, we are fortunate to have limited links to safe youth accommodation, but it is always extremely challenging. Sometimes it can take weeks for financial aid to begin, and in the interim, young people are extremely vulnerable. This is where having support from a wrap-around provider like Youthline can be vital.

Sam chose to come to Youthline because he'd heard on the streets that we help young people get back on their feet. He worked alongside one of our Youth Workers who stood by him while he found accommodation, supported him to receive the Youth Benefit while looking for a job, and provided links to other support agencies. Although his relationship with his mum isn't where he wants it to be, they attend counselling together and are spending more time with each other.

He still meets with his Youth Worker regularly - the one person who has his back when he needed it the most.

It doesn't take much to make a difference. We want to give every young person who comes to us access to the services they need, which is why we need your help. A donation of $30 will provide a transient young person with initial support from a Youthline Youth Worker, $60 will buy a young person food for a week, and $120 will give a young person a safe place to sleep.

Donate today to help us support young people like Sam.

Are you a kiwi teenager who has been through a positive “change” in the last year or helped “change” the life of another young person and would like to share your inspirational story? 

Nominate yourself or someone who’s made a positive change in their life this past year to win flights, accommodation and exclusive tickets to the World Premiere of “The Changeover” movie in Christchurch at the Isaac Theatre Royal on September 25. 

Watch the trailer HERE

The Changeover

Based on the timeless young adult novel by iconic kiwi writer Margaret Mahy and set in post-earthquake Christchurch, teenager Laura Chant (Erana James) cares for her younger brother Jacko (Benji Purchase) while their mum Kate (Melanie Lynskey) is at work. After school one day, Laura loses Jacko, only to find him playing in a pop-up shop filled with strange toys. The creepy old shop-owner, Carmody Braque (Timothy Spall) gives Jacko a stamp on his hand and sends them on their way.

But Jacko suddenly begins to get sick and Laura realises there’s more to Braque, and the stamp, than she had first realised. Fearing that something supernatural is at work and desperate to save her little brother, Laura seeks help from Sorensen Carlisle (Nicholas Galitzine), a prefect at her school to whom she is mysteriously drawn.

Laura discovers that Sorenson is from a family of witches. Sorensen’s mum (Lucy Lawless) reveals the only way Laura can save Jacko is to ‘change over’ and become a witch to defeat the evil ancient spirit Braque.

‘The Changeover’ opens in cinemas nationwide on September 28

Tell us about your inspirational “change” and you could win:

There will be one main winner who will receive:

• Return flights for two from the nearest domestic airport to Christchurch

• One night’s accommodation at the Commodore Airport Hotel Christchurch.

• Complimentary breakfast for two on the morning of departure at the Commodore Airport Hotel Christchurch.

• VIP tickets for two to the World Premiere of ‘The Changeover’ at Isaac Theatre Royal Christchurch on Monday 25 September.

• Meet, greet and photos with the lead actress from ‘The Changeover’, Erana James, at the World Premiere.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY HERE

 Entries close midnight on Friday 15^th September and the winner will be notified on Monday 18^th September by phone and email.

THE CHANGEOVER – YOUTHLINE

COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• By participating in ‘The Changeover’ promotion with Youthline, you are deemed to have read and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
• The Promoters of the Competition are Youthline and Vendetta Films.
• The competition is open to New Zealand residents only. Employees of the Promoters, and their affiliated companies, their families or agencies or anyone professionally connected with the promotion are not eligible to participate. The Promoters reserve the right to verify the eligibility of entrants.
• The Competition commences on Monday 21 August. Entries close midnight Friday 15 September 2017.  
• To enter the Competition use must submit an official entry using the online entry form.
• The prize winner will be selected on Monday 18 September 2017 to determine which changed teenager will be flown to Christchurch to represent Youthline at the World Premiere of ‘The Changeover’.
• On entering this competition, you are confirming your availability to travel to Christchurch on Monday 25 September and return on Tuesday 26 September.
• The teenager selected to win this prize will need to travel with a parent or guardian if he or she is under 18 or if 18 or over, may travel with a friend aged 18 or over.
• The prize winner will be contacted by a representative of Vendetta Films within 2 working days of winner notification to make travel arrangements.  The Promoters may draw another winner if they cannot contact the winner from entry close date to the end of Monday 18 September 2017
• There will be one main winner who will receive:
  • Return flights for two from the nearest domestic airport to Christchurch
  • One night’s accommodation at the Commodore Airport Hotel Christchurch.
  • Complimentary breakfast for two on the morning of departure at the Commodore Airport Hotel Christchurch.
  • VIP tickets for two to the World Premiere of ‘The Changeover’ at Isaac Theatre Royal Christchurch on Monday 25 September.
  • Meet, greet and photos with the lead actress from ‘The Changeover’, Erana James, at the World Premiere at Isaac Theatre Royal Christchurch on Monday 25 September.
• The winner and parent or guardian must make their own way to the airport for departure to Christchurch.  Airport transfers will only be provided in Christchurch.
• The winner and parent or guardian must travel on the same plane, departing and returning to the same domestic airport.
• The rules of this competition shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand and the courts of New Zealand shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any disputes arising therefrom.
• The prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternative is available.  Prizes are subject to availability and the Promoters reserve the right to substitute any prize for one of equal or greater value.
• On acceptance of the prize, the winner agrees to their name and photograph being used by Youthline and Vendetta Films in relation to publicity for ‘The Changeover’ movie release in New Zealand.
• The Promoters reserve the right to terminate, amend or extend this promotion in the event of exceptional circumstances outside its control which affect its ability to operate the promotion.
• The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered regarding the outcome of the Prizes awarded.