Community Feed

Meet the runners: Olivia

Olivia Rütti is running the half marathon for Youthline on behalf of her local Rotary Club: Albany Rotary.
“I’m already up and running training hard, supported with encouragement from my partner in crime Nat Joy, training plans from Mike Petrina, tips and tricks from Youthline, and Rotary as a strong backbone.”
She adds, “I work with young people every day, and I am very passionate about enabling them to achieve the goals they set themselves. I want to make things possible for them, just as they have been made possible for me. I want to make a difference.”
“Youthline is a fantastic organization that supports young New Zealanders and their families, providing helplines for when things aren’t going so well, as well as youth development. Youthline makes a difference in many a young person’s life, and that’s exactly what I want to do, and what I want to support to make the world a slightly better place.”
You can support Sam, Olivia and the rest of the team at:
fundraiseonline.co.nz/TeamHelpline

#Sport#Fun stuff#Events#Volunteering

Meet the runners: Sam

Sam Mudumbai is one of 71 runners who are taking on the challenge of running the Auckland Marathon 2015 on November 1.
When asked why she decided to run this year, Sam said “it’s not why I’m running for Youthline, its why I wouldn’t. Youthline is AMAZING! Each and every person connected with it, are kind, warm and generous. They are genuinely interested in being there to support someone.”

#Fun stuff#General #Events#Volunteering

Youthline is celebrating partnerships

For over 20 years, GlaxoSmithKline have supported the delivery of our national Youth Helpline and facilitated inter-regional connection between Youthline centres, allowing us to be there in times of need for more NZ youth.
The GSK-Youthline relationship is incredibly unique in it’s consistent, ongoing nature. Research tells us that long-term, consistent support of young people has the most impact. It is tremendous to in turn receive this kind of ongoing alongside support from our longest partner. On behalf of young people in NZ, thank you so much, GSK.
Simpson Grierson celebrates a decade supporting Youthline this year.
The law firm shows its support through an annual donation, staff fundraising activities, and pro bono legal services. A specific initiative is our free text counselling service. The text message service helps young people using their medium of choice - the mobile phone. Text averages 4-5 times more traffic than Youthline’s phone service.
Simpson Grierson’s Michael Wood says:
“We all want to help build a better future for the communities we live in. Using Simpson Grierson’s expertise and resources to help people in the community is something that we are absolutely committed to. Our partnership with Youthline is something we take great pride in. It’s an organisation that provides enormous support for young people and opportunities for their personal development, across the country.”

#General #Events

Unite. Ignite. Make Change.

The Youthline National Conference took place from July 3 - 5.

Eighty staff from Youthline’s centres nationwide gathered at Youthline Manukau for a weekend of connection, learning and leadership.

The conference focused on topics that matter to young people: social issues, personal development and health.

Throughout the conference, staff were encouraged to explore the question: what is your passion?

Speakers and facilitators explored holistic health and wellbeing, cultural and sexual identity, emotional first aid, youth employment, and youth rights.

The conference was also a great opportunity for staff to explore Youthline’s new e-therapy suite, GoForward.

Special acknowledgement to GlaxoSmithKline for their ongoing support of Youthlline. For over 20 years, GSK have facilitated the delivery of our National Helpline Service and inter-regional connection, allowing Youthline to reach more NZ Youth.

#Fun stuff#Events#Volunteering

Youth Week events around the country!

Youthline ran a series of youth led events for Youth Week around the country. Here’s a wrap up of some of the highlights from around the country. This year the theme was 'We Are The Future.'

Youth Week is a national celebration and an opportunity for communities to come
together to organise and plan events for young people.

Youthline Auckland Central hosted the festival themed event dubbed ‘Youth Day Out.'

Events on the day included an inter PTE sports competition, an arts station, live bands, dance acts, karaoke, a live DJ, dance, music, and art workshops.

About 300 youth from a range of private training enterprises (PTE) from across Auckland gathered to celebrate Youth Week 2015 on Wednesday May 26.

Youth Development Worker Jason Pace says Youthline Auckland decided to run a fun day out and the Auckland Central Youth Advisory Group made a huge contribution to the planning, organisation and marketing of the event. They came up with the theme and atmosphere, poster ideas and thought about what would attract young people and the community to the event.

I would also like to thank Mt Roskill Youth Zone for allowing us to hold the event at their centre for free.

Meanwhile Youthline Manukau held an art exhibit and Zine Project for Youth Week.

Along with a team of youth workers, Youthline Southland organised a range of events in Southland. Their Youth Quiz saw 20 young people get involved in a friendly competition where they could showcase their wide range of skills and knowledge. There were some great prizes up for grabs as local groups donated generously.

#Fun stuff#Events

Youthline’s Annual Street Appeal was in May

We’d love to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful volunteers who braved the wet weather to collect vital funds for us at locations spotted all around the country. A special mention to the volunteers who joined us from Sovereign, and to Domino’s pizza for the feed.

#Fun stuff#Events#Volunteering

The Good Friends Project

Friends, Imogen Holmstead-Scott and Emerald Wafer, received a $5000 scholarship from Sovereign for their ‘The Good Friends Project’.

Their project aims to provide support and help on Facebook and Tumblr to people who want to support friends in the recovery stages of eating disorders.

“There’s plenty of information on how to identify an eating disorder, but there is very little about what to do to support someone once they get a diagnosis,” Imogen says.

Sovereign’s ‘Be the Difference’ challenge offered young people the chance to submit ideas that would help New Zealanders with their health and wellbeing.

Imogen (21) and Emerald (22) won one of five prestigious scholarships.

Emerald and Imogen want to say a big thank you to Sovereign for helping them bring their idea to life. Without Sovereign’s help, it would have just been an idea
on paper.

#Volunteering #Education

Upcoming event!

ASB Auckland Marathon: by joining the Youthline team, we will support you with expert training, nutrition and fundraising advice. Plus, there will be a Q&A website, help from a local sports clinic, team runs and get-togethers.
On the day you will run in a Youthline t-shirt, have support from Youthline’s cheer and drum beat team, and have an after race function at Victoria Park with food and massages.
Most importantly - we’ll have heaps of fun! If you want to join, register and set up a fundraising page or email events@youthline.co.nz, today!

#Sport#Events#Volunteering

Cantabrian volunteers are expanding their skills

Youthline Christchurch volunteers headed to Auckland on July 3 for the Youthline National Conference. The conference will focus on topics that matter to young people: social issues, personal development and health.
National Volunteer Week is in full swing, and Youthline is very grateful to its volunteers who play an essential role in ensuring Youthline can support the thousands of young people who reach out each year.
Youthline provides all volunteers with ongoing training, so that they are equipped to support the community – on the Helpline, through projects, and in their own families.
The Youthline National Youth Collective (NYC) has planned and organised the conference for their fellow volunteers. NYC is a group of young leaders from across Aotearoa who provide input to and lead projects, services or initiatives involving young people.
Youthline National Spokesperson Stephen Bell says youth participation is vital if Youthline is to stay relevant with young people.
“Youth Advisory groups are youth development in action and we are passionate about ensuring young people have a voice and feel heard when it comes to decision making within their own communities.”
One of the NYC members is 22 year old student Alana Mulvena from Christchurch. Youthline caught up with Alana about her experience as a volunteer:
What do you like about volunteering?
I am passionate about helping young people to reach their potential, which is something that I have always been interested in. I also study social work and psychology so it’s great experience and relevant to what I study!
What do you like about Youthline?
I like what Youthline stands for: youth development and ensuring everyone has a voice and is heard.
I enjoyed being involved with organising the Youthline National Conference. We decided on the topics and themes. The topics need to be relevant so I thought about what people at uni are talking about, and stuff that I have experienced myself.
What else do you get involved with in the community?
Not at the moment as my study and work takes up all of my time!
Youthline wouldn’t be able to reach as many youth without the ongoing support of GlaxoSmithKline. For over 20 years, GSK has facilitated the delivery of our National Helpline Service and inter-regional connection.

#Events#Volunteering #Fun stuff

Bi-culturalism and Diversity celebrated

Youthline prides itself as an organisation that celebrates bi-culturalism and diversity and follows through on this with an annual visit as an entire organisation to Princess Te Puea Marae.
This year we marked the 20th Anniversary of our Youthline whanau visiting the Te Puea Marae in Mangere.
Te Puea Marae is a special place for us and is the memorial Marae for Princess Te Puea Herangi, who was a Māori leader who was a renowned supporter of young people.
The activities and discussions during the visit take us back to our roots and remind attendees about the importance of Connection, Community and Diversity to the work we do. It’s a chance for the entire Youthline whanau to come together and build cultural competency through learning, reflection, sharing, kai, waiata and fun.
Connection is about the connections we make with others in our lives, in social situations, and in our work with Youthline.
Community – is about a celebration and strengthening of all the communities we take part in – be they family, work, religious, neighborhood, or the community of Aotearoa.
Diversity – is about the wide range of life experiences, situations and values that make us both different and similar. We will take the opportunity to examine and widen our world-views. This is the third stage of Youthline’s volunteer training to work with young people. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation and we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do without them.
Our annual visit to Te Puea Marae is our chance as an organisation to ground ourselves in the work we do and reflect on the year that’s been.
For some it may be a space to reflect on where you have come from, your tunpuna (ancestors); the taonga (treasures) they have given you and how you can use these to support taiohi (young people).
We live in a bi-cultural country where many cultures who New Zealand home can be understood as Tangata Whenua (people of the land) and Tauiwi (all other cultures).
Te Ara Taiohi or bi-cultural footsteps explores bi-culturalism through the Marae Wananga or live in weekend at Te Puea Marae in Mangere.

#Fun stuff#General #Events#Volunteering

Youth Homelessness Matters Day!

Could you spot a homeless person in this lineup? #youthhomelessmatters

Young people struggling with homelessness face big challenges. But with support from the community, we can help young people and make youth homelessness a thing of the past in NZ.

Here’s how you can make a difference for our homeless youth:

Start a conversation about youth homelessness in NZ. Share these stories and let people know the challenges young people face.

Ask your workplace if they could take a young person on-board.

If you’re a landlord, keep an open mind when you consider who to let your rentals to.

Stop and have a chat with a young person who is rough sleeping. You can let them know that they are always welcome to give Youthline a call, or to pop into Lifewise’s Merge Café on K road.

Donate to Youthline and Lifewise and help end youth homelessness.

#General #Events#Education

Youthline did us proud for PRIDE!

Youthline joined thousands of revelers to celebrate Pride at the Auckland Pride Parade on February 21st.

Youthline Pride Creative Director, Dayna Cooper, also known as the Youthline Support Centre Team Leader, said Youthline thoroughly enjoyed tackling the Gods and Monsters theme this year.

"We actively support the Rainbow Community in Aotearoa in our work and through partnerships - young people, friends and families. It feels so good to celebrate with the community."

The Pride festival organiser had a space at the Youthline Auckland Central Centre in the lead up to the parade, and the Centre was also home to the 45+ floats which made their way down Ponsonby Road. While everyone was getting ready for the parade to begin we had a sausage sizzle for participants and passers-by.

Youthline received really positive feedback about our participation in the parade, which is awesome. Onlookers enjoyed our cool float, which consisted of angels and devils to represent the way inner demons can create turmoil for the young people that we work alongside. There was heaps of cheering from the crowd on the night, as well as lots of congratulations from supporters following the event.

#Fun stuff#General #Events#Volunteering

Youthline Auckland North Centre

We are really excited to be expanding our services in Auckland North with the development of a Youthline Auckland North Centre.

This journey began early last year, when Youthline aligned its staff structure around each of the centres. This gave each centre the ability to adapt to the specific needs of their local community.

North Auckland is a diverse region, ranging from rural areas to populated towns, and covers the area north of the Harbour Bridge all the way to Wellsford and across the Kaipara Harbour. Our ideal site would be in Albany, because it’s central, and has a range of schools, tertiary education facilities and PTEs, which means it will be a convenient location for lots of young people and is close to public transport!

This is a massive undertaking, and we are fortunate to welcome Simon Johnston to Youthline as part of the Auckland North Centre Development team. Simon’s work has covered the wider marketing functions including sponsorship, fundraising and communications in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. He is excited to be on board, and is looking forward to watching the development take place.

“The whole project is about involving the North Auckland community,” says Simon. “I’m talking to suppliers, developers, schools, tertiary institutions, everyone I can, to get them behind us.”

This centre is part of an ongoing development to ensure Youthline is creating communities where young people can thrive, and the best way to do this is to be part of each individual community. We now have Youthline community centres in Auckland Central and Manukau, with the development of a Auckland North centre on its way, and we work in collaboration with a consortium of partners to provide Youth Worker services from HealthWest in Waitakere.

“Being able to get the build done almost for free with community support would be the ideal situation. We really want that community feel.” says Simon.

If you can help with this project, please email changinglives@youthline.co.nz

#General

Youth Development Worker Julia Rahui

Hi! My name is Julia - I’m a Youth Development Worker Intern at Youthline Auckland Central, and as part of my job I support the tutors and students in our Alternative Education school.

To be honest, it’s my favourite time of the week.

At the moment we have nine students, but the school can have up to fourteen. The young people come to us if they have been excluded from mainstream schooling, and more often than not they are unsure and unhappy.

At Youthline, the young people continue their academic students through Te Kura (Correspondance School) with the goal of eventually returning to mainstream schooling, work, or further education. As well as academia, young people have courses in personal development and specialty courses such as mixed martial arts and DJ skills.

The best learning opportunities are often outside of the classroom, so we do what we can with our limited budget. This year, that includes an ongoing offsite art project and a regular “Masterchef” cooking programme. We also hope to go on a school camp to Waiheke (for some, it will be the first time on a boat). It’s cool to watch the young people get involved with things that they might not have participated in otherwise. There is a focus on finding out what the young people enjoy doing or studying, and supporting them to pursue these interests further.

Some have had, and continue to have, some very hard days. They bring personal stuff to school with them that can make it hard to concentrate on learning, but for the most part they show up at school, day in and day out. I see their determination and courage all of the time. These young people are so resilient, more than some adults I know.

Going to Alternative Education supports them with a new chapter in their life. At the end of the day, it’s up to them to make the most of their time at the school, and to become the masters of their own destiny. From being unsure and unhappy, I get to watch these young people evolve. I feel so privileged to spend time with them, and watch them learn, develop and grow as individuals.

#General #Education

Street Appeal

Youthline is on the hunt for a bunch of awesome volunteers to collect for us during this year’s Annual Street Appeal on the 22nd and 23rd of May. We’re looking for volunteers to collect for us at locations all around Auckland.

If you’d like more information, please email events@youthline.co.nz - thanks!

#Fun stuff#General #Events#Volunteering