We exist so that young people in Whangarei have a place of belonging​

Whangarei Youth Space is registered charity.  We receive some government funding but each year we are faced with having to find significant funds to keep doing the critical work we do with the young people of Whangarei.   

Whangarei Youth Space opened in 2014 in response to a need identified by Whangarei young people, and the wider community, for a safe, welcoming youth-focused space in central Whangarei.  The aim was to provide a place of belonging, easy access to support, development opportunities, and youth-specific health services. 

Today, Whangarei Youth Space is a vibrant Youth One Stop Shop. We have provided over 3000 Youth with Health and Youth Development support, including mentoring, leadership development and employment pathways. 

We work on a model of a youth / adult partnership which sees young people aged 18 to 24 take 50% of the trustee roles on our board.  We work in consultation with our Youth, offering leadership development and and ensuring we are relevant to their needs, and their voice is heard.

About WYS

OUR VISION 

All Young people thriving and valued

OUR Mission

We exist so that young people in Whangarei have a place of belonging, easy access to support, development opportunities, and youth-specific health services.

OUR VALUES

Ngākau whakaute - Respect, Hononga - Belonging,
Whakahoa - Partnership,
Kia manawanui - Courage,
Hiranga - Excellence,  Auahatanga  - Creativity.

OUR HOURS.

Drop-In Hours: Monday – Friday from 3:00pm.

Health Clinic Hours: Monday – Friday from 9:30am

Please call 09-9727248 for further information,
or to book an appointment.

SERVICES.

Whangarei Youth Space is a friendly safe environment for young people to relax and enjoy time with their friends, take part in after-school and holiday programmes.
Whangarei Youth Space [WYS] provides a fully integrated Youth Development and Youth Health service with youth workers and clinical staff trained specifically to work with young people.   All the services are free to members and having the health clinic as part of the youth drop in space makes it super easy to access health support.  All services are free to members of WYS.

Health.

Our health team provide free & confidential specialty youth health services holistically assessing physical, sexual health and mental health and wellbeing needs. We aim to work alongside your primary health care teams. Referrals can come from others in your health care team, education, whanau or you can self refer.

We work with a number of local youth organisations and after an assessment, we can refer for youth counselling and wellbeing services.

We operate via booked or drop in appointments Monday – Friday from 9:30am.
For appointments or more info Ph: 09 972 7248 

Youth Services ‘Drop in’ hours.

Our Drop-In is available Monday – Friday from 3.00pm during the school term.
We alleviate all our activities, and our services based off the goals identified by our young people. 

Youth Worker Support.

Students can meet with the youth worker and nurse together or separately depending on their needs and preference. They can help you with active problem solving and support you in gaining confidence in facing challenges. We are here to support you with your goals and aspirations. 

We have a duty youth worker available Monday to Friday from 9:00am to help you.

• Pathway Plans
• Job Seeking Support
• Community Engagement

The Whangarei Youth Space (WYS) was formed and developed by the Whangarei community, for all young people in Whangarei. The project was established by a steering group consisting of 15 organisations and individuals in the Whangarei community who supported this concept, along with a focus group of young people aged 14-24. Having the youth voice involved in the project was instrumental to the early success of WYS, and the Youth Space youth group wished for the youth voice to continue playing a lead role in WYS’s journey. The decision to have governance board consisting of a 50% young people (18-24) and 50% adults (24+) stemmed from this request, and has been in effect ever since.

Youth-Adult Partnerships is a purposeful partnership between young people and adults, this is not only a framework model for supporting reciprocal learning between Adults and Youth, but for promoting engagement, participation and leadership. This way of working is innovative and, as far as we know, unique in New Zealand. Whangarei Youth Space is purposefully working to embed authentic partnerships with young people at every level of our organisation. This approach brings fresh insights and new ideas, keeps us relevant and ensures that we deliver what young people want and need. It provides genuine learning opportunities for young people and significantly advances pathways for youth development and the transition to adulthood.​

Youth Adult Partnerships​

Whangarei Youth Space is a small charity doing really important work in the community. Through the work of our specialist youth development and health teams, the Whangarei community benefits from young people growing into positive, engaged citizens across our community.

We need help to keep our services free. Your support will create the world of difference to a young person that may not always have access to the help, support, role models, opportunities that they need.

Your gift of support, great or small, will positively affect not only the young person it directly helps, but it will helps a family/whanau, friends, a neighbourhood, a community and the benefits will impact the next generation. Your support creates a positive legacy for the Whangarei community.

We need help to keep our services free. Your support will create the world of difference to a young person that may not always have access to the help, support, role models, opportunities that they need​.

Thank you for wanting to contribute towards the free services that Whangarei Youth Space offer, for all Donations please email us on reception@youthspace.co.nz

Support Us​