The dream becomes a reality:

Youthline Manukau Centre to be officially opened by Not One Person…

PRESS RELEASE OCT 2O12

After years of planning, acquisition, engagement and construction, Youthline are pleased to announce that on October 30th 2012 their new Youth, Family and Community Development Centre will be officially opened by the following team:

The Mayor of Auckland Len Brown; Hon. Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development and Youth Affairs; Trevor G Thomson QFSM, Ex-Chief Fire Officer, Papatoetoe Volunteer Fire Brigade; Phil Holden, Chief Executive, The Lion Foundation; Ken Whitney, Chair, ASB Community Trust; Mark Powell, Group Chief Executive, The Warehouse Group Limited; Sir Stephen Tindall, Founder The Warehouse Group Limited; Anthony Welton, Human Resources Director, Vodafone NZ; Youthline’s CMDHB Youth Advisory Group; Rawiri Wharemate, Youthline’s Kaumatua; Mark Giles, Youthline Chairperson; Stephen Bell, Youthline CEO

Youthline has provided services to the South Auckland community for over 42 years and has been based in Manukau since 1996. In 2009 the former Manukau City Council granted Youthline a thirty year lease on the site of the iconic former Papatoetoe Fire station, located at 145 St George Street.

Youthline CEO, Stephen Bell says they have continued to work alongside the Papatoetoe Community Ex-Fire Fighters Charitable Trust to reflect the history of the building and their volunteers. “The original centre opened in 1959 and was home to the largest volunteer fire brigade in NZ, and we are really aiming to continue that proud tradition of service to the community,” says Bell.

One way the history of the centre has been acknowledged is through the restored ‘little flick’ fire engine which is on display in the cafe area. "It takes a village to grow healthy, resilient and creative young people and personally I can't think of anything better to engage with young hearts than with a shining red fire engine.”

The centre is not just a home for Youthline Manukau, but is also a hub for organisations including Ivita Health Services Ltd, CMDHB – Kidz First, YouthLaw, Project K, Raukura Hauora O Tainui, NZ Aids Foundation, and the St John’s Papatoetoe Youth Division.

With the help of many individuals and organisations Youthline raised over $4 million to build the new centre, but there are still finishing touches to be done.

“As a way of acknowledging those who donate we have created a donor brick pathway leading up to the centre – and there are still more bricks available!”

As well as monetary donations, many people have given their time and energy.

“At its core Youthline is a volunteer organisation and over the past few years we’ve had numerous working bees where people have donned paint brushes, shovels and bbq tongs – to all those people, we are so grateful!”

The centre represents more than a decade of planning and needs analysis and it’ll help enrich the local area through support services, leadership and personal development opportunities.

“We estimate that the projected value of accessible free and low-cost services, programmes and information to the Manukau community will be well over 1 million, annually,” says Bell.

The completed centre provides a hub for Youthline’s national 0800 helpline and text service, creating a base for over sixty volunteers assisting Youthline to respond to over 300,000 contacts every year.

Some of what the Youthline Manukau centre offers:

- A Cafe and life skills training area which will not only provide great food but also youth cooking classes and barista training opportunities to support healthy eating, nutritional education and the development of life skills.

- Performing Arts area- our ground floor meeting room is being completed with a recycled Rimu floor, so that it can double as a dance, drama poetry and creative arts space.

- A designated area within the centre fostering youth and leadership development through a youth radio station. This is currently an ‘open’ vision ready for inspired individuals to guide its development.

- A connected space, internet enabled for young people or members of the community to access the internet outside home, work or school, providing them with a space for study, learning and developing valuable IT skill.

- Numerous programme, consultation and meeting rooms and event spaces, available for youth development programmes, face 2 face counselling and casual hire for local community groups and businesses.
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