1

‘Humbled’ and ‘completely shocked’ were the words Ariana Krynen used to describe how it felt to win Youthline’s 2012 Volunteer of The Year award.

Ariana first began volunteering with Youthline Otago in 2011, while studying for her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Otago University.

“In my third year, I decided to take up volunteering at Youthline to get some hands on training and to see if I was cut out for this type of work – luckily Youthline taught me I was!”

When Ariana moved from Otago to Auckland at the end of 2011 to complete her honours degree, she decided to continue volunteering.

“The journey I started in Otago was so fulfilling and had taught me so much about myself and others - I was hooked!”

Once settled in Auckland, Ariana set a goal for herself – to become a solo mentor by August 2012.

“When I was going through the training, my mentor was such a huge support for me and I knew that I wanted to return that to other new trainees, so mentoring felt like the right transition for me.”

As well as volunteering for Youthline, Ariana also dedicates her time to IHC and Age Concern, where she regularly visits the elderly and members of the community who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“I JUST REALLY ENJOY GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY AND LENDING A HELPING HAND WHERE I CAN.”

This year, Ariana is one of the select few to make it into the Clinical Psychology programme at Auckland University.

“Getting into Clinical Psychology was a huge milestone for me. It’s going to be full on, but I know the end result will be more than worth it.”

1

3

2

4

5

6

7

8

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - ARIANA KRYNENIN THIS ISSUE

SUPPORTERS NEWSLETTER - AUTUMN 2013 ISSUE 3

// VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: ARIANA KRYNEN

FRIENDS OF

// HONOURED FOR YOUTH WORK

// STRATEGIC ELEMENT: ENGAGEMENT

// VOLUNTEER PROFILE: JOHN BOWATER

// YOUTHLINE NORTH SHORE NEW PREMISES

// THYME OUT AT THE STATION CAFE

// EVENTS

// WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

// FUNDRAISING

// YOUTHLINE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

// BOOST FOR YOUTHLINE SOUTHLAND

// YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH GUIDELINES

// MERCHANDISE

// ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSAriana Krynen - Youthline’s Volunteer of the Year

Ariana hopes to eventually work with children struggling with mental illness, and their families.

“I had a family member go through severe depression, so that kind of thing is close to my heart and I really hope to be able to support families going through tough times like that.”

In 2012, Ariana completed 144 hours as a helpline counsellor and mentor.

“There’s no better feeling than making that small difference in someone’s life by being there for them at the other end of the phone - I don’t think I’ll give it up anytime soon!”

Thanks to all the volunteers who give up so much time to support young people and their families across Aotearoa, this is made possible through the generosity of individuals from the community as well as Auckland Council, Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate, Charles Rupert Stead Trust and Southern Trust who have provided funding to Youthline Auckland to support volunteer training and co-ordination.

YOUTHLINE

// TOPIC: WHAT IS ANXIETY?

2

One of Youthline’s strategic elements is ‘engagement’. In 2013 we have a number of projects which have come to fruition to help us engage more effectively.

These projects include our ‘extranet’ which is now accessible by paid staff and will soon be available to all volunteer staff across NZ - it is a portal for key documents, contacts and latest internal news.

Another internal project has been the development of a new e-learning orientation to help new staff navigate the world of Youthline.

Externally Youthline now has a Smartphone app, allowing anyone who downloads it to read all about our latest news and events as well as receive a Coffee Card and special deals for Youthline Manukau’s cafe – Thyme Out at the Station.

Download the app here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/youth-line/id553338927

We will also be working this year on further developing our suite of online support services - watch this space!

We are also continuing to engage with the youth of NZ via our online magazine ‘Heyday’. You can read the first few issues here

If you know of a young person who would be great to feature in a future issue please email Amanda: awatson@youthline.co.nz

Connections made in the past year:

53,000+ Volunteer hours

350,000+ Txt messages managed

43,000+ Youth helpline calls

127,000+ Specialty call centre calls

190,000 helpline calls in total across 9 contact lines

110,000+ Website visits

4,000+ Face to face sessions (Counselling and Mentoring)

14 Students in Youthline Alternative Education

4,200+ Online members

10+ Youth advisory groups

700+ Training sessions

140+ Youth Development programmes

STRATEGIC ELEMENT: ENGAGEMENT

Stephen Bell says his appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit brings about an “interesting mixture of feelings”.

The Youthline chief executive received the honour for services to youth, after nearly three decades of working for the charitable organisation.

“In some ways, to be doing the work I’m doing I’m quite blessed, but it’s been bloody hard,” he says.

“So on one hand it feels really nice to be acknowledged and on the other hand I feel a bit bashful.”

Mr Bell says the honour reflects the dedication of everyone involved in growing Youthline from a telephone counselling service into the multifaceted machine it is today.

These days the organisation offers youth development opportunities, an in-house secondary school and provides support services to youth in the Cook Islands via phone and text messages.

Mr Bell says the biggest learning curve in his 27-year journey with the organisation has been his own development.

“When I joined in 1985 as a volunteer it was very much about me as a person,” he says.

“I had heard about it through flatmates who were involved and were raving about the training so I thought I would check it out.”

Mr Bell had a background in business and had been studying nursing.

He started by volunteering on the phones and performing in a group that visited schools and prisons.

He shifted his focus in the 1990s to improving his skills as a counsellor, therapist and youth worker.

“Then the last 10 years have been about creating an organisation that can do great things,” he says.

“As the organisation grew in the 90s I had to make a decision whether to carry on as a practitioner or as a manager.

“And though the practice still pulls me I decided I could create more capacity for that sort of work as a manager.”

Many of the challenges facing today’s youth are the same as three decades ago - the challenges of growing up, leaving school and learning about themselves.

However, Mr Bell says the advances in social media can help youth open up and talk more easily about what is going on in their lives.

“The biggest barrier for young people to get help has always been a sense of stigma and embarrassment, so there things are evolving.”

A major focus for Youthline will be expanding digitally over the next few months.

New staff have been hired to take its online presence to the next level.

“I’m really excited to see what we can do in terms of e-learning and e-content,” Mr Bell says.

“In the next year I want to have 10,000 people connected to us through social media.”

By Danielle Street - Fairfax NZ News

HONOURED FOR YOUTH WORK

Stephen Bell

3

WHAT IS ANXIETY?

Anxiety is a common and useful response in many situations. Like all human emotions it can help guide us and recognise when we need to respond or adjust our behaviour. Most people will experience anxiety over their lifetime, particularly in relation to stress. Often good self care and having positive connections with others who can support you will help people cope well through anxious times. However, anxiety can become problematic when it is intense and frequent enough to disrupt people’s everyday lives in a negative way.

Did you know:

• Anxiety is consistently one of the top ten issues for Youthline’s text/ email and face to face counselling services

• As many as 18% of young people in New Zealand may experience problematic anxiety

What support does Youthline provide for people experiencing anxiety?

• Phone, text, email and face- to-face counselling

• The Engage Group – this is a 10 week evidence based psychoeducation and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) programme.

Engage group facilitator Amber Davies says the group was initially developed by Engage Aotearoa founder Miriam Larsen-Barr for her Masters thesis. Miriam wanted to create a group that was accessible, responded to the needs of the community, and was largely informed by people’s experiences of anxiety.

Amber says “The Engage group is different from other anxiety programmes in that we are not trying to ‘cure’ anxiety, but instead we aim to give people

the skills and practical tools to enable them to understand and manage their own anxiety. Despite anxiety being so common, one of the major features of problematic anxiety is that people suppress or try to hide it from others. The Engage group is particularly powerful because it reduces the isolation people feel through meeting others who have had similar experiences”.

A recent participant of the group had this to say:

“It was an open and caring forum to express myself (surrounding my anxiety issues) and weekly ‘challenges’ meant I carried the work throughout the week. I really liked the way the ‘lessons’ were structured and the content was thought-provoking and stimulating. It was also inspiring to hear people’s korero. I am now a successful applicant for a tutoring programme and feel my anxiety has responded well to these group sessions.”

The Engage group will run again in 2013 starting Wednesday the 3rd of April 4pm-6pm Youthline House Ponsonby. For an information pack, registration or further information please call the Specialty Assessment Services team on 361 4168 or check out rhe engage website here.

Watch this space:

This year Youthline are also going to pilot a text package specifically for young people dealing with mild to moderate anxiety.

“We recently did a text campaign called ‘inspireme’, where people who signed up received a positive uplifting message for a month – this was received really well so we’re hoping to do something similar focussing more on psychoeducational and CBT principles’, says Amber.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

FREE TEXT

TALK@YOUTHLINE.CO.NZ

HELPLINE0800 37 66 33

EMAIL234

Thanks to The Christine Taylor Foundation who have generously funded a Text Pilot supporting young people who have mental health problems.

(Left) Barbara Staniforth, Christine Taylor Foundation &

(Right) Sarah Hanson, Youthline

4

We wanted to let you know a few things about

Thyme Out at the Station:

• We have a variety of cabinet food available daily

• The prices on our all day menu are between $5 and $12.50

• Every 8th coffee is free (if you download the Youthline app you can stamp your coffee card from your phone!!!)

Youthline has been delivering some services from rented premises on the North Shore since 1994 and operating nationally for over 42 years. In September 2012 Youthline leased permanent office space at the YES Disability centre in Albany to support the delivery of our Youth Service Contract, which covers North Shore, Albany and Rodney as well as Central Auckland.

Youthline plans to increase the scope of existing services on the North Shore to enable the wrap around approach in supporting young people

aligned to the principles of Youth Development outlined in the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa.

To celebrate this achievement, Youthline held a morning tea on Thursday the 28th of February at the YES Disability Centre.

Visit us: YES Disability Centre, 3 William Laurie Place, Albany.

To find out more about Youthline’s work as a Youth Service provider click here

• We are home to Flick The Original Papatoetoe Fire Engine

• We are open Monday through to Saturday from 7.30am.

Volunteering since ages ago!!!

My journey with Youthline started after my younger brother died in a traffic accident. I was in a pretty bad space for a while, and was getting some help, and later a friend (who was already a Youthliner) suggested I join up.

I discovered a wonderful place where I could learn heaps, hang out with excellent people, and help support others. Later on I trained to be a mentor and a group facilitator, and have been with the organisation for ages now. It feels like a tribe I belong to, and it’s a place where I get to make a positive difference in the world. The confidence and communication skills I’ve developed have also been surprisingly helpful in my computer software development career (my paying job), helping me move into team leadership and consulting roles.

YOUTHLINE NORTH SHORE NEW PREMISES

THYME OUT AT THE STATION

PROFILE: JOHN BOWATER

HOME MADE PACIFIC MUESLI $6.00 Served with Greek yoghurt and passionfruit

EGGS ON TOAST $6.50 Fried, scrambled or poached with toasted wholegrain bread

FRENCH TOAST $4.00 Served with grilled banana, bacon and mapl syrup

OMELETTE $4.00 Filled with caramelised onion, spinach, cheese and served with grilled bacon and toasted wholegrain bread

EGGS BENEDICT $4.50 Served on toasted wholegrain bread with a creamy hollandase sauce and grilled bacon

EGGS FLORENTINE $4.40 Served on toasted wholegrain bread with creamy hollandaise, wilted spinach and mushroom

FIREMANS’S BIG BREAKFAST $12.50 Any style eggs served with hash browns, grilled tomato, bacon baked beans and whole grain bread

Youthline Manukau’s cafe ‘Thyme Out at The Station’ has just launched a brand new menu – Sneak peak below.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, TIP US ON FOURSQUARE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY COME AND VISIT US! 145 ST GEORGE STREET!

(Left) Mark Darling, Youth Justice North Shore & (Right) Peniel Fa’amausili, Youthline

John Bowater

5

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP EVENTS

We are currently in the process of arranging a planning and brainstorming day between Youthline staff and Sovereign advocates.

Our objectives of the day are to continue in building a meaningful relationship, and to gain assistance in our joint approach to peer to peer fundraising, our school engagement project and general event volunteer fundraising.

Youth RideWhen most of us were having late nights to see in the New Year of 2013 our Youthriders were taking it easy. Tom Lynskey and Ben Riley set off from New Plymouth by car bound for Slope Point on the bottom of the South Island to undertake a 2500km cycle ride north to Cape Reinga. Their journey would take 14 days all in the name of Youthline.

Tom Blogged - “So when I say that we rode the length of New Zealand, please understand that to me this pales in comparison to each and every Youthline volunteer who dedicates their spare time to helping those who truly need it. They are the heroes. But the ride served a purpose. We tried to keep it entertaining, and we tried to make it engaging, in the hope that you’d ask the question “Who is Youthline, anyway?”

“My support for Youthline is very personal, to me it represents assistance for those who really are in need, it acknowledges their existence, and it gives credibility to their struggles. And while both Tom and I certainly appreciate all the support that you have given us throughout this ride, we aren’t the ones who really need it” quoted Ben. Check out the rest of their blog here

JUST ENERGY

SOVEREIGN

THANKS SO MUCH TO TOM & BEN WHO RAISEDAN AMAZING...

FOR YOUTHLINE$2451.30

Fight Night – Battle Royal Ben Nelson and Craig Tompson from CTP Promotions offered to collect funds for Youthline during a boxing event called Fight Night – Battle Royal, held on the 27 October 2012 at the ABA Boxing Association in Auckland. This was another great opportunity to raise awareness of Youthline with about 600 people attending the event. Youthline would like to thank Ben and Craig very much for taking this great initiative, and for the money raised.

Youthline has launched a Community Support Programme in conjunction with Just Energy the Power Company. Becoming a Just Energy customer and joining the ‘The Power of Three’ scheme, will see 3% of customers prompt payment discount donated to Youthline.

To find out more and get involved click here

Young people are set to benefit from Youthline Auckland winning a brand new Toyota Corolla for three years in the ‘Toyota 25 ways to say thanks’ Facebook competition.

Youthline Auckland CEO, Stephen Bell says it’s about much more than just ‘winning a car.’

“This competition was a great example of what a community can do when they all pull together and work towards a common goal, we’re so grateful to everyone who took the time vote for us and promote the competition to friends, family and even complete strangers!”

Youthline’s Youth Workers will be using the car to reach young people providing mobile service delivery, directly engaging young people in mentoring, skill development and support services.

“It’s really important for us to be alongside youth in their journeys and to give them greater accessibility to the wider world. Our Youth Workers often pick young people up to take them to job interviews, doctors appointments and driver licensing tests.

Having an extra set of wheels to do all this is going to be a huge help.”

“We’re really looking forward to receiving it and we’ll be sure to keep everyone up-to-date on the many adventures the car will go on”, says Bell

“Thanks to Toyota for giving us this opportunity, and greater means to create communities where young people do well.”

NEW WHEELS FOR YOUTHLINE

Peer to Peer FundraisingWe recently have had a number of events sponsored to help raise Youthline much needed funds. In addition we had a group who recently took part in the Speight’s West Coast Challenge, and we have a group who has signed up to the take part in Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge for Youthline. Do you have an event or challenge coming up? Are you planning an event or activity? Do you think you could raise funds for Youthline? Please contact Dominic by emaiiling: changinglives@youthline.co.nz

Coin DonationsFresh Choice and Super Value group have chosen Youthline to be the recipient of their checkout coin collection in March and April. Please look out for the donation boxes at their stores.

Ben Riley & Tom Lynskey

6

On Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th November 2012, over 40 Youthline representatives from each centre participated in the Youthline National Conference, a hui hosted by Youthline Wellington that incorporated themes of connectedness and aspiration throughout a productive weekend.

Saturday morning consisted of 3 Breakout Group Workshops presented by 3 of our forward thinking and very talented Youthline staff members. Successful Youth Participation facilitated by Katie Weastell (Clinical Advisor Youthline Wellington), Crisis Intervention across the centres facilitated by Beth St Claire (Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Facilitator Youthline Auckland) and a pecha kucha Text Counselling presentation by Ailsa Haxell (Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology and Youthline Auckland Volunteer). Each session had an interactive element to it and everyone participated in group discussions relating to each topic.

Saturday afternoon was reserved for guest speaker Sarah McGhee who had the daunting task of

providing an aspirational speech. A past Youthline volunteer, Sarah was able to draw on her 32 year wealth of experience and an impressive vocational pathway through youth services which culminated in her role as a Regional Team Manager for the Ministry of Youth Development. Sarah was able to share a few insights with us and said that in her life “no matter how many doors open, there are always more to discover, and explore, and people who have been there before”. She certainly delivered in her speech by providing us with some words of wisdom, tools of the trade and a journey with which to aspire!

Sunday consisted of an engrossing workshop run by Jude McLaren, Chairperson of Youthline Wellington, which focused on creating a platform for our Vision, Mission, and Values by capturing a brain dump that not only celebrated what we do well, but also recorded each of our individual hopes and dreams for the future of Youthline.

The Conference was interlaced with activities that focused on connecting and getting to the

crux of what makes Youthline, Youthline. One of the highlights was a recreation of Youthline through the Ages, a timeline of sorts facilitated by Ramon Narayan (Youth Development Worker AE) and Stephen Bell (CEO of Auckland, National Spokesperson) using Action Education’s very own drama toolkit. Participants acted out in groups what they thought each of the decades from Youthline’s beginning in the 1970’s - through to the present day.

As the conference came to a close the final wrap up consisted of a ‘what I got out of this weekend’ round and the general consensus was that people felt like they had a safe space to think big and share their creative and innovative ideas; were able to feel part of a larger community and put faces to names; connected with a diverse group of people from different centres; and ultimately were inspired and invigorated by the possibilities, opportunities and successes of the organisation as a whole.

By Ellen Anderson

TE ARA TAIOHI YOUTHLINE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Youthline Central South Island

(Left to Right) Sina Sa’u, Cherrill Rave, Siutu Pulou

Sarah McGhee presenting

7

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH GUIDELINESBOOST FOR YOUTHLINE SOUTHLAND

Youthline has just completed a project funded by the Ministry of Social Development, creating best practice guidelines for developing Youth Mental Health Resources.

This project consulted with over 200 young people and providers to help inform the development of information for young people that is relevant and takes into account the preferred methods and mediums through which young people would like to receive mental health information.

ONCE KEY QUESTION WE ASKED WAS “IF YOU HAD ONE MESSAGE TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH WHAT WOULD IT BE?”

The overarching theme that came up was hope. Young people felt that messages of hope and normalising asking for help would encourage and assist their peers to reach out for support.

Young people also wanted to see:

• Interesting/relevant/up to date information

• Self-tests and interactive online questionnaires

• Various language options

• Real life stories

• A focus on NZ

• Smartphone apps

• + much more

As results of our research, a number of recommendations were made that Youthline will be following up on over the coming year – watch this space for some exciting developments!

You can read the full guidelines here

Youthline Southland has recently welcomed on board a Youth Development Worker, 26 year old Gemma Ball, to help build and support the volunteer base and take calls and texts that come through to the National helpline.

“Growing up in Southland, I understand the community and have a passion for young people and seeing them develop, achieve their goals and give something back to the community”, says Gemma, who has a Social Work degree from Massey University.

Youthline Southland has been providing support for young people and their families for nearly four decades and Gemma says she’s looking forward to building on that solid foundation.

“Southland is a strong, caring community, so I’m hoping they’ll be plenty of people willing to support our young people by volunteering on the helpline, which fields over 40,000 calls and manages over 350,000 text contacts each year”.

Youthline Auckland CEO and National Coordinator, Stephen Bell says Gemma’s appointment will provide a much needed boost to the area.

“Without a community of volunteers Youthline becomes “just” another service provider and there is a danger that we lose the core DNA of the organisation which is equipping the community to be a part of the solution not just recipients of services,” he says.

“As with all small organisations, Youthline Southland faces its challenges, however our firm local roots and supportive community mean we can look forward to a positive future, where the young people of Southland are supported to do well”, adds Bell.

For information on volunteering for Youthline Southland please click here

Media enquiries: Stephen Bell phone 027 271 8151

Youth Help

Phone: 0800 37 66 33 Email: talk@youthline.co.nz Free Txt: 234

Gemma Ball, Youthline Southland

8

YOUTHLINE MERCHANDISE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

YOUTHLINE CENTRES

Illicit Clothing

Illicit clothing have designed a Youthline T-Shirt to help us raise valuable funds. Available to be purchased in an array of colours and sizes.

Entertainment Book

Buy an Entertainment Book from Youthline and for every book sold $13 is automatically donated to Youthline!

A BIG thanks to Transpower Community Care Fund and Four Winds Foundation for supporting the Youthline Manukau Youth and Community Centre - this funding has been valuable in helping us to complete much needed work in the building.

Thanks also to New Zealand Community Post for supplying Youthline with free envelopes to use in writing and sending information to the local community.

Thanks to Auckland Airport Community Trust for supporting Youthline Manukau Youth and Community Centre through a generous grant.

Hubbard’s have also recently provided boxes of cereal to our Alternative Education School which is housed in Youthline Auckland and has 14 full time students. Thank you very much for this; the students found them so tasty that unfortunately they didn’t last long!

Thanks to Ken Valder and the team at Commercial Office Equipment ltd for donating some office chairs to Youthline which have been gratefully received by our volunteer staff working on the helpline!

AUCKLAND CENTRAL

NORTH SHORE

MANUKAU

WAITAKERE

PALMERSTON NTH

WELLINGTON

CHRISTCHURCH

OTAGO

SOUTHLANDHow to purchase: Web: www.helpyouthline.co.nz Email: changinglives@youthline.co.nz Call:(09) 3614816

WANT TO KNOW MORE?FREE TEXT: 234 TALK@YOUTHLINE.CO.NZ0800 37 66 33