News

New CBD Youth Hub open

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 12:56:00

A new Youth Hub will open its doors in Mildura’s CBD this weekend, with a focus on connecting, challenging and creating opportunities for young people.

The MDAS Youth Hub in Pine Avenue will deliver after school programs, skills development and projects for young people as well as providing a base for the existing MDAS Koori Night Patrol.
MDAS’s Manager of Family and Youth Services Andy Charles said the hub’s focus would be on engaging and positive activities to involve and challenge young people.
“We have developed and fitted out the space so it’s interesting and appealing to come into. It looks fantastic and everyone is welcome – Koori and non-Koori,” Mr Charles explained.
“There’s table tennis, a pool table, video games, and music equipment, as well as a full gym,” he said.
“But as well as the ‘youth space’ elements, we have also put together some more formal programs that we think the kids might find of interest, but might not previously have been able to access.
“We will have activities going on like a weekly cultural program that will include sessions with local community artists and weekly gym sessions with a personal trainer.”
Mr Charles said the Youth Hub also offered the opportunity for after-school tutoring twice a week.
The youth hub will be open from 1-5 pm on weekdays.  It will be open until 7 pm Thursdays, with the Night Patrol continuing to provide its late-night service that ensures young people get home safely.
“We’re planning to extend those hours as volunteer numbers start to grow and the MDAS Volunteers program is fully up and running,” Mr Charles said.
“We’d love to hear from anyone who is willing to help us extend the opening hours of the program by volunteering with the Youth Hub.
“It will be good to also have an identified point where youth can come and feel safe and know they can get access to the youth patrol and get home,” Mr Charles said.
The youth hub will be officially opened with a celebration at the hub at 21 Pine Avenue, Mildura from 4 pm tomorrow.  Everyone is welcome.
Information about volunteering for MDAS is available on the MDAS website, or by contacting MDAS.