YouthGrow: partnering together to enable young people to thrive
About YouthGrow
YouthGrow is an initiative of Presbyterian Support Otago and part of their Family Works service. It is a ‘life-ready, work-ready’ programme offering an alternative education pathway for 14-24 year olds who may be struggling with their mental health or be disengaged from education.
““Helping rangatahi (youth) build on their strengths, grow in confidence and gain useful skills that will see them succeed in life, learning and employment.””
It offers a safe space and a structured programme that recognises their strengths, seeks to uphold and enhance their mana and provide support to develop positive, pro-social relationships and behaviours that will help them to re-engage in opportunities and find hope.
Programme Offerings
Led by qualified and passionate youth workers/educators the YouthGrow programme includes some hands-on practical skill development including growing food and using tools, access to NCEA unit standards, along with life skills like budgeting and planning, developing tenacity and self-management – with the overall aim of enabling young people to develop the confidence to succeed in life.
Relocation and New Partnership
Since 2023, after having to move from their original premises at a garden centre which provided a strong focus on horticulture and the day to day operation of a working nursery, YouthGrow has been based at Flagstaff Community Church, a Presbyterian congregation in Wakari, Dunedin. The YouthGrow service and Flagstaff Community Church have partnered together to not only share the physical space, but also the collective vision and values of ‘growing together through loving service to our community’, including a joint commitment to ‘call out injustice and advocate for positive social change’.
Evidence of Collaboration
The partnership between the two organisations is evidenced in things like the congregation’s active support of a boating day on a local lake as part of YouthGrow’s summer holiday programme, along with connecting with the local marae and attending Pātaka Ora, a free community lunch. The responsibility of caring for and maintaining the church grounds and buildings is shared. One of YouthGrow’s youth workers has attended Sunday worship to talk about the work that they are doing as another way of providing an ongoing connection.
Shared Values and Future Projects
Family Works Acting Director Deb Gelling and YouthGrow Manager David Pirie are very grateful that the Flagstaff Community Church congregation have opened up their hearts, space and doors for the YouthGrow team and rangatahi attending the programme. Flagstaff Community Church and YouthGrow also share a commitment to ecological sustainability and are working together on eco-restoration of the local School Creek in Wakari and other projects. Interestingly, the logos of both FamilyWorks and Flagstaff Community Church contain the image of harakeke (flax) and YouthGrow attendees have learned about tikanga (protocols) in caring for and harvesting flax.
Resources:
The Flagstaff Community Church web-site: https://churchatflagstaff.co.nz/
For more PSO YouthGrow information: https://psotago.org.nz/services/individuals/youthgrow