The majority of young people in New Zealand do well. However, we know that one in five are struggling and require support from time to time, with a further 10 per cent facing severe adversity in many aspects of their lives including health, education, employment and housing.
In Canterbury, the 2010-11 earthquakes, 2019 mosque shootings and 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the need to support our young people to reach their full potential.
Youth Hub Christchurch aims to be a 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.
The Hub will deliver wrap-around services including mental health, medical, education, employment and training, transitional housing, recreation, creativity, and social entrepreneurship in a one-stop-shop model. Importantly, it will do this in a youth-centric and accessible environment where young people feel accepted and supported as they develop into adults regardless of 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 mental health outcomes.
According to The Treasury, the cost to the taxpayer for just one young person who has been in the care of the state will is $1 million by the time they are 32-years-old. Therefore, if the Youth Hub turns around the lives of just 20 young people, it will have paid for itself. It’s an investment we believe is worth making. We hope you do too.