Partnerships building Youthline Manukau

 

 

 

Partnerships building Youthline Manukau Centre

 

Support from the communities where Youthline operates makes our work changing lives possible and our new Manukau Youth & Community Development Centre is a great example of this.

 

A decade of planning, research and engagement with the local community alongside support from local youth, families, community groups, supporters and funders has helped bring this project to life.

 

Key funding partnerships with the Lion Foundation, ASB Community Trust and the Lottery Grants Board are integral for this project and our aim to address the needs of young people and their families in Manukau. It is estimated that the projected value of youth and community services provided through the new centre will be $1.4 million annually.

 

According to Project Coordinator, Kate Duder, the range of support for the redevelopment of the old Papatoetoe fire station has been awesome. “Construction is well on track thanks to our valued partners at all levels and we are very grateful for all the support.” Kate says.

 

“A thirty-year lease from what is now the Auckland Council kicked the project off, and since then support has continued to build.  Fletchers and Youthline have formed an innovative partnership that has seen Fletchers winning the construction contract and being able to assist us in sourcing sponsors for building materials,” she says. Bassett Plumbing and Drainage, sub contractors for the build, along with Methven have also been instrumental in assisting us with acquiring donated plumbing products from the industry.

 

The generous building material sponsors include: Methven, Caroma, Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom, Fletcher Reinforcing (steel), Fletcher Aluminum, Diamond Roofing, Firth Paving, Golden Bay Cement, Pink Batts, Winstone Wallboards (GIB), Laminex Group, Nebulite, Metro Glass and Monier (bricks).

 

The centre development has also been made possible through funding from Vodafone New Zealand Foundation, Fairfax Media, Auckland Airport, Ministry for Youth Development and Pacific Steel Group.

 

This project is for the youth and community, so it’s essential to get their input and the Youthline Manukau Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is advising the project team. Recently, they carried out research on a number of community cafes and presented their ideas for the new cafe to our Project Steering Group. Their ideas to make the cafe relevant and welcoming from a local community and youth perspective include:

 

• A large communal table in the centre of the cafe to represent a sense of community and sharing of this local asset
• A vibrant multicultural mural painted by local youth along the cafe counter
• A brick menu board tying in with the building’s heritage and history
• A portable stage area for youth and community performances

 

And of course, the cafe will be home to ‘little flick’ the restored fire engine belonging to the Papatoetoe Volunteer Fire Brigade Old Boys Association, who will also have a presence in the centre.

 

In order to complete the project we still require further funding and will be engaging with the local community and greater Auckland supporters to help us ‘unlock the future’ for Manukau youth.

 

For further project information please visit www.youthline.co.nz/support-youthline/manukau-centre-development.html

 

For ways that you can help us ‘unlock the future’ please visit www.youthline.co.nz/unlock or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it