Vision

To enable all young people in Ōtautahi the opportunity to lead healthy, safe and valued lives, fulfilling their potential and vibrantly contributing to their community.

Mission statement

The Youth Hub creates a safe haven for young people needing support between 10 and 25 years of age. It is a collaboration of co-located services that gives opportunity for young people to grow in an environment of encouragement and positive social engagement. The village of wellbeing-focused services are supported to ensure best evidence-based practice, sharing a core commitment to Mana Taiohi principles of youth development and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. In partnership with the Youth Hub Trust, relationships are fostered by maanakitaka, open communication, honesty and ethically sharing information in the best interests of the young people.

The need

We know that one in every five young New Zealanders are struggling and require support from time to time, while a further one in 10 face severe adversity in many aspects of their lives including health, education, employment and housing. To exacerbate this, Christchurch’s young people have had to endure the 2010-11 earthquakes, 2019 mosque shootings and 2020 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 being the turning point in the lives of young people aged 10-25. The Hub will be the first of its kind in New Zealand and will be based in the heart of central Christchurch. It will act as a communal place of growth and wellbeing and will give opportunities to those who need a chance to prove themselves as contributing citizens of our city and country.

The Hub will connect socially supportive organisations under one roof to deliver a holistic one-stop model of wrap-around services including mental health, medical, education, employment and training, transitional housing, recreation, creativity, and social entrepreneurship. Importantly, it will do this in a youth-centric and accessible environment where young people feel accepted and supported as they develop into adults with respect to their ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and gender.

The plans for the Youth Hub closely align with transitioning young people out of state care, fulfilling the goals of the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy and improving youth mental health outcomes.

From a people and economic viewpoint, we believe Youth Hub Christchurch is an investment worth making. We hope you agree.