Drop in, hang out and learn at centre
A new youth service in Tahunanui gives young people a chance to hang out, play games and learn new skills.
The Tahunanui Community Centre initiative for 11 to 15-yearolds fills a gap in youth activities in the area.
On Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons the centre is filled with couches and bean bags. A table tennis and foosball table are ready for battle and other sports equipment is also available.
A big projector hooked up to an Xbox and Playstation means visitors can play games projected on the wall.
Youth worker Nicola Harvey said the drop-in centre started just before Term 1 this year, and most days there were about 14 kids attending.
‘‘The community centre decided it would be beneficial for a youth service to start up, especially after The Truck shut down.’’
The Truck was a mobile youth centre run by the Youth and Community Trust, which stopped operations last year.
Twice a week pupils from Broadgreen Intermediate, Nelson Intermediate and Nayland College have been getting together to listen to music, play games and hang out.
‘‘It’s a space for them to own, so they are in charge of a lot of the development and what we decide to have here.’’
Harvey said kids could have a meal at the drop-in centre that they were responsible for preparing. ‘‘We actually get the young people in the kitchen, cooking their own food, we pro- vide the space and the ingredients and the support to help them to learn how to cook because a lot of them don’t know.
‘‘A lot of them were quite scared of getting in the kitchen at first but they are kind of getting used to it now which is really cool.’’
On Thursdays, there is a focus on workshops and challenges. They have held a Masterchef competition, where teams were given secret ingredients and had their creations judged.
Music teachers have helped the kids write lyrics and produce their own soundtracks.
Broadgreen Intermediate student Wade Walker, 11, said he came every week and liked the chance to hang out with everyone.
Nelson Intermediate’s Kianu Hedley, 11, said the centre was ‘‘cool’’ because he could make anything and play with his friends.