You can help build Youth Hub Christchurch

Youth Hub Christchurch aims to be a turning point in the lives of our city’s young people.

Currently being constructed at 109 Salisbury Street in central Christchurch, it will house a dozen organisations working on the frontline of youth mental health and wellbeing. These organisations will deliver wrap-around services including mental health, medical, educational, employment and training, recreation, creativity and social entrepreneurship.

What sets the Youth Hub apart is its supported housing facilities. These will provide accommodation for up to 40 young people aged between 16 and 23 for up to 18 months. During this time, they will be assisted with their health, employment, catch-up education and given the vital support they need to transition into independent living.

Construction on stage one (building to house the medical and social service providers and a supported housing wing of 22 bedrooms) is well underway thanks to the support of Anglican Care who gifted use of the central city site, $18.1 million of government funding from the Infrastructure Reference Group programme, and a $500,000 grant from the Rātā Foundation.  Stage one is expected to be completed in mid-2024.

Why is it needed here?

New Zealand’s largest survey of young people, Youth-19, found that one in five high school students could not see a health professional when needed and that depression and suicide ideation had increased. The report recommended improvement priorities, including ‘one-stop-shops’ for rangatahi, where they can access healthcare and other services. It also found that services available are not currently fit for purpose for young people – particularly for rainbow, Māori, Pasifika, and male youth.

To exacerbate this, Christchurch’s young people have had to endure the 2010-11 earthquakes, 2019 mosque shootings and COVID-19 pandemic. These events are hard on all young people but are often crippling for those already suffering adversity.

Youth Hub Christchurch aims to break this cycle of adversity by enabling all young people in Ōtautahi the opportunity to lead healthy, safe and valued lives, fulfilling their potential and vibrantly contributing to their community.

How you can help

The Youth Hub Trust continues to fundraise to fitout the facility, as well as for stage two which includes an apartment block with 5 apartments each with 2-3 bedrooms, a basketball courtyard, public cafe which will be used for training purposes, creativity, music, performance and events spaces, an art gallery, education and training areas and planter boxes and greenhouses on the roof.

Find out more here: www.youthhubchch.org.nz