Youth Hub still on track to open later this year
The christchurch youth hub is on track to open later this year, with stage one of the project to be complete by july.
The youth hub is new zealand’s first purpose-built, one-stop-shop to support youth health and wellbeing.
It is being built on the old bowling clubrooms on salisbury st and will house wrap-around care and support services for young people aged between 10 and 25.
The first stage includes the construction of a wing to provide accommodation for up to 23 young people, allowing them to stay there for up to 18 months.
It will also see the opening of an office block for the many youth organisations which will be located on site. these include te tahi youth, youthline, qtopia, community law, voyce, te kura, catapult employment services, and people first nz.
The rest of the year will be spent fitting out the facility before its opening in late 2024.
The hub is being funded by a range of organisations including anglican care, the rātā foundation and wayne francis charitable trust, and government funding from the covid-19 “shovel ready” grants.
Funding from organisations does not cover the fit-out of the facility, so donations are needed to help furnish the bedrooms, shared spaces and offices.
The youth hub trust has launched an on online registry to help pay for the fit-out of the supported housing wing.
The registry allows people to buy items needed to make the facilities a home for the 23 young tenants. items range from $25 cups to a $5000 fridge/freezer.
The trust is also on the hunt for funding partners for the remaining stages of the hub, which includes another wing of supported housing and communal spaces.
These include a public cafe, spaces for creativity, music, performance and events, an art gallery, education and training areas, and planter boxes and greenhouses on the roof.