Word about the Youth Wellness Hub is spreading, according to the project co-ordinator.
At its April 9 meeting, Anne Vincent updated Timmins council on the youth-led initiative giving people ages 12 to 25 spaces to get together for activities, and access resources and services.
“It does take a village and a community to raise a child and we are exemplary of that in how we run as an organization,” she said.
Last year, council supported the hub with an $80,000 grant.
She said that money was used to support the hub in a number of ways, from training peer mentors to supplies, food, activities and transportation.
Since its launch Sept. 29 to the end of March, there have been 38 hubs, with 695 youth visits.
Of those visits, when participants were polled about whether they’ve been there before — 469 said yes, and 226 said no.
“That’s really phenomenal. One of the comments that people made before we launched was what if you get the same 40 or 50 kids who keep coming back over and over and over again. That’s not what’s happening, as you can tell by the numbers,” she said.
The majority of participants have been between the ages of 12 and 14 years, which she noted is an ideal age to be talking about mental health and well-being, and equipping them with life tools.
“We have plans to engage the older youth in different ways, through conversation cafes and pop ups,” she said.
Coun. Andrew Marks, who was part of the council that gave the hub cash last year, is looking forward to hearing additional stories on the initiative’s success.
“And please let us know how we can support this because it’s a part of the Timmins 2020 mandate, it’s a part of every study that’s ever been done in the City of Timmins; to support our youth, work with our youth, foster our youth to make our community a better place,” he said.
The Timmins Youth Wellness Hub is also receiving provincial support for a youth intern this summer.
The hub is one of only 10 organizations across Ontario selected by the Rural Ontario Insitute (ROI), a non-profit organization whose mandate is to develop leaders, initiate dialogue, and support collaboration on northern-Ontario specific issues and opportunities.
The summer youth intern will develop and implement youth engagement strategies, and actively provide a voice for local youth in the ongoing development of the hub in our community.
