Linking young people with the services that can support them is the focus of an upcoming Youth Connections Expo on Friday, 27 March.
The expo offers rangatahi a chance to meet agencies in a relaxed, welcoming space rather than through an office visit or phone call, coordinator Paul McConachie explains.
“It’s twofold – it’s firstly bringing all the agencies together to connect with each other,” Paul says. “The other outcome is providing young people with more informal opportunities to meet them or just be aware of what is out there.”
More than 20 organisations will host interactive and lively displays, including Whenua Iti Outdoors, Q Youth, RISE, Empowerment Trust, Te Kotahi Charitable Trust, The Spot, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and Nelson Bays Primary Health.
The event will also promote a new online youth directory service, an evolving platform that already lists 175 local youth-focused agencies.
The expo is being held in the Motueka High School hall from 12.30pm to 3pm, and Paul encourages youth who homeschool or have left school to come along too, especially during the quieter lunchtime slot of 1.30–2.30pm.
Youth workers, people who work with young people and parents of teenagers are also expected to benefit from the networking opportunities and information available.
The expo is organised by the Nelson Tasman Youth Workers Collective, which works with health, education, employment training and social service providers to help strengthen the youth sector. The collective has operated for more than 40 years and has 140 members from 30 different agencies. It provides training and networking, and Paul says that community support, particularly in Motueka, has always been strong.
For further information, contact coordinator@ntywc.org.nz.
