By Melanie Barr, Community Director, Shore Junction.
Shore Junction is a youth innovation hub being created in the heart of Takapuna. It is being designed as a space for young people to connect, belong, and grow. Shore Junction will offer youth-friendly facilities and integrated services that support innovation, learning, wellbeing and creativity, enabling young people to accelerate their potential and embark on their future pathways to success.
Shore Junction is more than just a physical space; it is a community – a community of young people, and a community of local businesses and other leaders who are invested in creating an environment where young people can thrive.
Through our Community Pillar, we provide opportunities for young people to engage with likeminded peers and with adults who are passionate advocates of youth potential. The ultimate goal is to support young people to feel connected, to feel that they belong and to have a safe place where they can come to follow their passions, develop new skills and gain critical experiences that support their future pathways.
The Community Pillar is where we shape the culture of Shore Junction – building a tight-knit community through delivery of programmes and projects that focus on supporting young people to:
• Develop new friendships
• Understand who they are
• Enhance their wellbeing
• Share opinions - and have a voice on issues in the wider community
• Access peer support and collaborate on shared interests
• Cultivate existing or new skills that support their future pathways.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller.
Why do we need a community focus?
Young people need a safe space where they can connect, share and belong. Consultation with local North Shore youth shows that there are few environments where young people can build strong connections. Our young people want to be able to seek advice or support and build the core social skills needed for healthy development and transition to adulthood.
Two in five young people locally feel that it is hard to meet other young people. Nine in ten young people locally say that they would use a space that was designed by young people, for young people.
The Community Pillar will achieve positive long-term outcomes, including:
• Young people with increased confidence, self-worth and resilience
• Young people who feel they belong to a community and are supported to work collaboratively
• Young people who are community-minded and influence local decision-making
• A wider North Shore community that is more connected and is delivering for its young people
