Young people establish Youth Service in Wellington

Young people establish Youth Service in Wellington City

Free health care, peer support and info services will be available to Wellington young people through the new Youth Service ‘Evolve’, which will be officially opened on Thursday, 3 June.

“Finally, Wellington’s young people will have a holistic youth service providing activities, health care provision and a safe place for all young people to be,” Service Manager Simone Piatti said.

“This project is the result of four years of hard work, thousands of volunteer hours and a really strong and stubborn commitment by Wellington young people. The outcome is a service that will both help and empower their peers.”

The project is a youth-owned and youth-led community initiative that received funding for establishment from the Ministry of Health in 2003. The Service also has a memorandum of understanding with Te Atiawa, the Mana Whenua of Wellington represented by the Wellington Tenths Trust, who are in full support of this initiative.

“The main aim of the service is to address the wellbeing needs of Wellington’s young people therefore enhancing their quality of life and reducing social inequity” Ms Piatti said.

The service employs 13 peer support workers - young people who help run and facilitate the use of the service by other young people - as well as a doctor and a nurse. Peer supporter Gemma Scott, 19, said the peer support workers had received training but would act mainly as friends and mentors rather than counsellors - serious problems would be referred to specialists.

The official launch will happen at: Evolve, 5 Eva Street (off Dixon St) Wellington Thursday 3 June at 4pm A brief Powhiri will be followed by the official opening of the centre by Hon. Annette King, Minister of Health. Entertainment will be provided.

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