8 May 2015

Youth Wise Trust changes service model for young people

Youth Wise Trust, together with its management team, has decided to close youth space Secret Level and transition to a mobile service delivery for young people.

The objectives of the Trust, which has youth work at its heart, will remain the same and this move is seen as the most beneficial use of the group’s time, experience and resources. It’s also seen as providing the greatest benefit to the wider community.

Dave Kent of Youth Wise Trust says, “Youth work is our core business and this change will allow us to get out into the community, across the valley, and bring services to young people in their own communities and schools.”

Simon Gilbert, Operations Manager says, “We want to adapt and do things differently; this is a big change for our organisation but we feel this is a positive move in the right direction which we are ready for.

“It’s a change that will get us working with more young people and groups in new ways with greater community impact.”

Hutt City Council are delighted to see that Youth Wise Trust are moving to a model of operation that will see many of our young people and our youth providers in our outlying suburbs benefit from the services, programmes and activities they can offer.

Both Hutt City Council and Youth Wise Trust remain committed to continuing to work together to make sure meaningful opportunities are available to young people.

Matt Reid, General Manager of Community Services at Hutt City Council says, “Council will continue to support Youth Wise Trust by providing opportunities to work together and by providing access to Council facilities.”

One example of a new type of service is the work that Youth Wise Trust does in Wainuiomata. Called Biketec, they aim to get young people mobile with access to bikes and keep them mobile by giving them the skills (and in the long term qualifications) they need to repair bikes.

Dave Kent says, “Cycling is a healthy activity and a means of transport for many young people.

“We recognised this need and put programs in place that work with schools and other agencies to fix young people’s cycles in or out of school. Absenteeism can increase from something as simple as a flat tyre and getting young people to repair their own bikes means they’re more mobile and less reliant on others to get to school, recreation or activities.”

Youth Wise Trust will rebrand from its current trading name of Secret Level and close their facility at 229A, High Street, Lower Hutt in July.

ENDS

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