Youth Hub Chch Events Centre becomes Christchurch’s go-to venue for young people

Three months after opening, Youth Hub Chch Events Centre becomes Christchurch's go-to venue for young people - proving its worth as a dedicated youth venue for creativity, connection and belonging.

The purpose-built 126m² centre opened in late May, supported by $500,000 funding from Rātā Foundation. It is designed as a flexible venue, with modular staging, professional sound and lighting, wheelchair access and assisted listening technology. Operating on a low-cost hire model, it supports youth-focused events and activities and in its first quarter of operating has hosted everything from concerts, conferences, poetry slams, workshops, hui and DJ sessions.

The venue is the latest addition to our growing Youth Hub Christchurch campus, a multi-organisation facility supporting young people and the organisations that work with them. The Hub provides affordable office and meeting spaces for youth-focused organisations, wraparound support services, supported housing for young people at risk of homelessness, and welcoming spaces where rangatahi can connect, belong and have fun in the heart of the city.

Youth Hub Trust Chair Sue Bagshaw shares that the Events Centre responds to feedback from young people about the need for more fun, free and safe places to spend time in Christchurch. "A lot of young people I hear say there’s nothing to do in Christchurch," says Sue. "This is a great place to have something to do, where young people can perform, create and gather. It’s a great way of creating mental health, gaining skills and, all importantly, confidence. We hope young people in Christchurch will find a centre where they can have fun, learn skills and continue to develop."

Christchurch singer/songwriter Isabella Jane who headlined Youth Hub Live, our extraordinary opening concert, says the Events Centre provides a place for young people to explore art and performance in a supportive environment. "I believe this will be an incredibly beneficial space for the youth of Ōtautahi because it gives a place for them to grow through their art," says Isabella. "Art is about self-discovery, so having a place where it’s not such high stakes - where you’re there to share your talent and have people support you no matter what - it’s really special."

Kane Stewart, founder of Egg Academy - a digital skills academy for young creators - is both a former Youth Hub board member and a current tenant. He says physical spaces remain important as young people spend more time online. "The youth of Christchurch, like most of the youth out there, are spending a lot of time online," says Kane. "A physical space is really important to hear what one another is thinking - and what better way than to perform on a stage and really express what they’re interested in."

We are incredibly grateful that Youth Hub’s development, including the new Events Centre, has received support from Rātā Foundation, which has backed the project since around 2017. Sue says the funding has been instrumental in helping to realise the Trust’s vision for the facility.

"Our approach has always been to get all the funding together before we start building. Rātā has been so supportive to enable that first penguin off the ice, to encourage others to invest too. Nothing could happen in Ōtautahi without Rātā Foundation."

Rātā Foundation Head of Community Investment Kate Sclater says: "The Youth Hub has really grown into a place of connection, belonging and opportunity for young people in Ōtautahi. The new performance space is a great way for young people to build confidence, connect with others and see new possibilities for themselves. Its flexibility means it can be used in many ways - from performances and workshops to gatherings, celebrations and community events. We look forward to seeing how this new venue is used by young people and the wider community."

The Events Centre forms part of the wider Youth Hub Christchurch development, which is at its halfway point, with plans for youth apartments for young parents and those not well suited to living with others, creative arts spaces, a training café, a drop-in centre, and rooftop garden areas.

View the video here: Rātā Foundation Faces of Funding: Christchurch Youth Hub

About Rātā Foundation

The South Island's most significant community investment fund, Rātā manages a pūtea (fund) of around $730 million, enabling an investment of around $25 million per annum into its funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands. Since its inception in 1988, Rātā has invested over $630 million through community investment programmes to empower people to thrive.