News

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The General Election on 14 October is just around the corner, bringing with it the opportunity for eligible voters to have their say on the future direction of our country. However, not everyone will take up this opportunity, especially young people. Even during the “Youth Quake” of the 2020 general election, only 62.7% of eligible…

When things are tough, we’re often told (or tell others) to “harden up” or “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – but how often do we check whether there are any bootstraps to pull on? At the Y we call those bootstraps “strengths”, and utilising them (“strengths-based practice”) is the foundation of how we work…

There’s an election looming in New Zealand. One way you can tell is by the near-constant media headlines about the supposed youth crime wave, ram raids, and political parties of every stripe announcing “tough on crime” policies in response. These announcements make good sound bites. But are the proposed policies actually good for the troubled…

The recent Mama Hooch trial, which resulted in convictions against two men on dozens of charges including rape, sexual violation, indecent assault and drink-spiking related to Christchurch’s Mama Hooch bar, reveals how sadly little has changed since the Roast Busters case horrified the nation 10 years ago. The aftermath of the Roast Busters case led to the…

In today’s tight labour market many employers will be competing to hire end-of-year school leavers and other not very experienced young people to fill permanent and part-time roles, as well as seasonal summer vacancies. But in the era of “quiet quitting” and a generational shift in attitudes toward work/life balance, is it possible to bridge…

Are you a good driver? Safe? Responsible? A Road Code whiz? Could you spare two hours a week to help a young person practice for their on-road driving licence test? If so, the Y would love to hear from you! In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Y offers the Community Driver Mentor Programme (CDMP)…

Society often treats teenagers as if they’re a problem to be solved, but the reality is that we have to prepare them to solve our problems. At the Y our mahi centres on positive youth development – whanake taiohi pai. We view rangatahi through the lens of development, using their strengths as a springboard for…

We’ve written before in this column of our commitment to supporting Rainbow rangatahi and their whānau in our community. With upcoming PRIDE Month being celebrated throughout March we wish to reiterate the importance of being an LGBTQ+ ally. Being a Rainbow community ally is a rewarding experience for us at the Y. We celebrate PRIDE…

Youth voice is something we at the Y feel passionately about. So for our last column this year, we decided to turn it over to our rangatahi. We asked the learners at all our Education Centres what they wish others knew/understood about them and about the Y, and here’s what they had to say: What…