Not the case at all if you consider the uncertain future of the Nambucca Youth Service Centre, better known as the Nambucca Youthie.

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As the team at the Youthie attest, they are one of the few places in the Nambucca Valley that has an open-door policy, is inclusive, safe, supportive, engaging, supports referrals and delivers programs and projects for young people.

The grass-roots organisation considers that projects and programs are best delivered in partnership and collaboration with other community groups, government and non-government agencies, and have the best outcome when co-designed with young people and key groups such as schools, local Gumbaynggirr groups, and other relevant stakeholders.

Since its beginnings the Youthie has not relied on recurrent funding but has been a grant funded organisation. However, former Chairperson of the Board of Directors and current Treasurer of the Youthie, Chis Hewgill, points out that many of the grants that kept the Youthie’s doors open have now ceased.

Combine this with what the Youthie calls a perfect storm of increases in public liability insurances, power costs and cost-of-living factors impacting all other areas of running costs, the centre is looking at a very real possibility of having to close its doors.

Chris Hewgill and the Youthie team have been hitting the streets to motivate community and business groups to get behind them.

Some of their partners that use the centre are also lobbying on their behalf, all the way to Canberra.

Chris Hewgill, who has had almost 40 years’ experience working with youth, points to the ripple effect of an asset like the Youthie closing its doors.

“We were originally set up to work toward countering youth suicide in the district,” he said.

“If there is no location like this and no services like the ones we connect people to, where will young people go?”

One local organisation that has great concern for the plight of youth in the community and has decided to do what they can to help is the Country Women’s Association (CWA) Nambucca Valley Evening Branch.

Recently pledging a donation of $500 to assist the Youthie meet operating costs, the Evening Branch’s Jeanette Bailey told News Of The Area, “We want to support local groups that work with youth, such as the Youthie, and encourage other community groups to support the Youthie.

“We really think they are doing important work with our young people and just do not want to see it closed because of lack of funding.”

When asked what the CWA support to the Youthie means to them, Chris Hewgill told News Of The Area, “The CWA, particularly this branch, is a group that looks across the broader community, all ages.

“In Nambucca the issue of poverty and its impact, particularly on our youth, is real and these ladies can see that and by getting behind the Youthie they are doing something about it.

“What we need is a youth centre that can provide services right across the Nambucca Valley and a community centre that can assist with those caught up in the housing crisis, domestic violence and other social issues that most people don’t see but we, at the Youthie, deal with all of the time.”

By Mick BIRTLES