Reclaiming Our Lives from Screens

Young people today are more aware of the downsides of excessive screen time than many might think. Recent findings, including Outward Bound’s Screentime Amongst Rangatahi survey, reveal that nearly 80% of taiohi wish to reduce their time on devices. The study also found that peer pressure plays a significant role in screen habits. Seventy-five per…

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Support can reduce stress of exams

It’s that time of year again – NCEA exams are looming, and taiohi across the Central South Island are hunkering down to hit the books. Whether they’re tackling NCEA Level 1, 2, or 3, this period can be pretty stressful for them, but there’s a lot you can do to help ease the pressure. Here…

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Journeying Beyond te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Y Central South Island is on a powerful bicultural journey, and it’s one that we’re excited to be taking as an organisation. With Māori participants making up between 35-50% of those involved in our education, youth work, support-to-employment, and driving programmes, it’s clear that connecting with and supporting our Māori community must be at the…

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Weathering the Storm of Funding Cuts Together

Government funding cuts have sent ripples of concern across the non-profit and social sector, and the communities of Timaru, Ashburton and Oamaru served by the Y are no exception. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we think it also provides an opportunity for organisations to come together, pool resources, and amplify our collective impact.…

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The Importance of Meaningful Work for Young People

Recent research led by The Y Australia on behalf of the worldwide YMCA Movement has underscored the challenges and opportunities around young people and the world of work. The global research survey reached over 10,000 young people aged 18-35 in over 120 countries worldwide. 45% of respondents were from under-represented groups. The research revealed: So…

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Crucial for Youth to Have a Say in Their Communities

Let’s talk about something super important: giving young people a real voice in their communities. This isn’t just about letting them speak; it’s about truly listening and acting on their insights. An important youth voice opportunity for taiohi living in Ashburton, Mackenzie, Timaru, Waimate, and Waitaki districts is currently running until 30 June – the…

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A First Aid Approach to Youth Mental Health

Our young people face a myriad of challenges that can impact their mental well-being. From academic pressures to social media influences and everything in between, the weight of these issues can often feel overwhelming for taiohi. Indeed, 59% of 16 year olds said they feel stress “always” or “most of the time” – a figure…

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Who’s Who on Your Youth Team?

There will always be times when a young person needs extra support and guidance from a trained professional. Here at The Y we have youth workers and social workers who work collaboratively with taiohi, and counsellors may also play an important part of the wider team. The roles of youth workers, social workers, and counsellors have distinct…

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Why the YMCA Became The Y

What’s in a name? Plenty, if it’s one as well known around the world as the YMCA (are you singing that song in your head yet?) Having such a well-recognised name means that many people think they know exactly who we are and what we do – or what we’re supposed to do. At first…

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Vaping & Young People Shouldn’t Mix

Vaping and taiohi (young people) really shouldn’t mix – but of course they do. So what’s being done about it, and how can you support a young person to quit? Vaping has become increasingly popular among our taiohi, with data showing that the number who vaped regularly had tripled between 2019 and 2021 and continues…

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