Youth Alive Trust will be running a Fun Day on Thursday 23rd October for anyone in School Years 1 – 8 while schools are closed due to Primary School Teacher Union Strikes. The programme will run during normal school hours, from 8:30am – 3:00pm and costs $40 per child. We’ll be playing lots of games, doing team challenges, baking, and eating what we’ve made! WINZ subsidies will be available for those who normally qualify for holiday programmes or Oscar care. Those needing care after 3:00pm can also sign up to our normal after-school care programme. Register via: yat.aimyplus.com by choosing the ‘Special Day’ option.

Kia ora,

It’s now less than 100 days until Christmas – get the countdown on! But don’t rush away the year yet, because we have some big plans for Term 4!

BONUS OFFER – we’re inviting taiohi (young people) moving into a new club age range, to try it out in Term 4 before they official transition in 2026.

Eg: Year 6’s can come to Rock Solid this term, Year 8’s can go to Surge, Year 4’s can go to Craft Club and Kitchen Klub, Year 3’s can come to Oscar! They can sign up for the full term, or just pop along to chosen nights. Invite your mates too!

Weekly clubs begin on Week 1, starting week of Monday 6^th October.  Term plans, brochures and online registration links for Term 4 are on our website.

> Seniors After-School Oscar (School Years 4-9) EVERYDAY with Van Pick Ups 2:45pm – 5:45pm. BONUS: Year 3’s Welcome in Term 4!

> Surge (School Years 9 – 13) Mondays 6:30-8:30pm. FREE for teenagers.  BONUS: Year 8’s Welcome in Term 4!

> #NEW 2025: RISE (ages 12-16) Mondays 6:30pm – 8:00pm.  FREE for teenagers.  BONUS: 11 year olds Welcome in Term 4! Check out their latest Promo Video HERE

> Basketball Clubs (School Years 1 – 8) Tuesdays 

• 3:15pm – 4:05pm (School Years 1-3)
• 4:15pm – 5:05pm (School Years 3-6)
• 5:15pm – 6:05pm (School Years 6-8)

> Kitchen Klub (School Years 5 – 9) Tuesdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm.  BONUS: Year 4’s Welcome in Term 4!

> Kōtirotiro Girls Club (School Years 1 – 6) Wednesdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm

> Tamatāne Boys Club (School Years 1 – 6) Thursdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm

> Craft Club (School Years 5 – 9) Thursdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm.  BONUS: Year 4’s Welcome in Term 4!

> Rock Solid (School Years 7 & 8) Fridays 4:00-6:00pm.   BONUS: Year 6’s Welcome in Term 4!

> Amplify Music Lessons (School Years 1-13) Everyday 3pm – 6pm

> Amplify Band Programme (School Years 7-13) various times by audition

Save The Date: Family Fun Night

Friday 31^st  October 5:00pm-7”30pm at Beach Campus

Everyone is welcome to the annual Family Fun Night.  For just $2 per person, join in a large variety of carnival games, inflatables, photo booth, food trucks (to purchase), live youth bands, RISE performance and a show by an entertainer.

We encourage ‘non-spooky’ dress-up’s because it’s a safe & fun alternative to Trick or Treating.

Thanks to Home Foundation for your kind sponsorship of our inflatables area.

Follow the facebook event for further updates: www.facebook.com/events/1124599442486657

Holiday Programmes

Our September Holiday Programmes start next week, and there are still limited spaces on certain days on the different age groups.

Log onto https://yat.aimyplus.com to find out more. If you’re unable to book, and keen to be added to the waitlist, email: rego@yat.org.nz

Our Summer Holiday Programmes will be 17^th -19^th Dec, 19^th – 23^rd Jan & 26^th – 30^th Jan.

Podcast Tip

Dads – Check out the easy listening podcast by Hamish Blake who chats with other dads about their approach to dadding, steal some of their hard earned wisdom and help us all dad a tiny bit better.

https://howotherdadsdad.com/

Feedback

We appreciate any feedback on our programmes and have a short general parents feedback survey you can complete anytime. Positive comments made are also really helpful for us when applying for funding:

Parents Survey Link

Ngā mihi

The YAT Team

This week we said a sad farewell to Jayden who is moving onto a new exciting role with another youth development agency in the city centre. Jayden has been a full-time worker at YAT for over 5 years, but has been a part of the YAT whānau most of his life, attending programmes as a child, teenager, then volunteering in various roles, picking up casual work, before becoming permanent staff, while obtaining a Diploma in Youth Work. His final day was yesterday, were he ‘coincidently’ led a fun day trip to Hanmer Springs with our rangatahi. Jayden will be hugely missed at YAT, particularly as the coordinator of our Kea Holiday Programme, Tamatāne Boys Club and Surge teenage club. We send Jayden with our best wishes. We’re stoked you’ll still be bringing the best of your skills and knowledge to the youth sector in Christchurch and know you’ll always be a part of our whānau.

Check out some of the work Jayden has been doing at Shirley Boys High School in their latest reports: Term 1 2025  Term 2 2025

Summer Holiday Programmes – SURVEY

We are keen to hear from our regular parents as to their holiday programme needs both PRE & POST Christmas. We know some parents need as much holiday programme time as possible, but we’re trying to balance the needs of the community, with the regular responsibilities of our staff and also give them a decent summer break. We have an indication from local schools (see below – although some to be confirmed), so would you take 1 minute to answer these few questions for us:  YAT Summer Holiday Programme SURVEY

• Rawhiti School. Closes Wednesday 17th Dec. Re-Opens for whole school: Monday 2nd Feb (30th & 31st Jan – goal setting days).
• South New Brighton School. Closes Friday 19th Dec. Probably Re-Opens first week in Feb.
• New Brighton Catholic School. Closes Tuesday 16th Dec. Re-Open date tbc.
• Chisnallwood. Closes Friday 12th Dec. Re-Opens Thursday 29th Jan.
• Hillview. Closes Tuesday 16th Dec. Re-Opens tbc

We loved the past couple of days gathering with youth workers from all over the country for the bi-annual youth workers conference, @Involve and this year it was at the amazing Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. Challenging speakers, conversations, connections and encouragement. We even got to host part of the pre-Involve tour, showcasing young people from Amplify School of Music, gave them and good feed with Empire Chicken and then down to He Puna Taimoana. Special week!

Youth Development Team Lead – Make a Lasting Impact!
Location: Grace Vineyard Beach Campus, New Brighton, Christchurch
Hours: Permanent, 30–35 hours/week (includes some evenings & weekends)
Salary: $60,249 – $72,537 FTE (pro rata)

Do you have a heart for young people and a passion for leadership? Are you looking to lead a dynamic team making a real difference in the lives of tamariki and rangatahi in our local community? If so, this is the opportunity for you!

About the Role:

Youth Alive Trust is on the lookout for a highly motivated and experienced Youth Development Team Lead to oversee our youth development programmes. You’ll be guiding a passionate team of youth workers, designing high-quality, evidence-informed programmes, and fostering strong relationships with community partners.

Your leadership will ensure our mahi continues to reflect our Christian values, uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and follow best practice youth development work principles.

Why Join Us?

• Faith-aligned mission: We’re a Christian trust with a deep commitment to transforming young lives.
• Community rooted: Based in beautiful New Brighton, serving the east of Christchurch since 1989.
• Culturally grounded: We embrace te ao Māori and foster inclusive and respectful engagement.
• Team culture: A fun, relational environment that values trust, servant leadership, and professional growth.
• Sector aligned pay and monthly external supervision provided.

You’ll Be Responsible For:

• Leading, supervising, and mentoring a team of youth workers and interns
• Overseeing and developing high-quality youth development programmes and events
• Building trusted relationships with rangatahi, whānau, schools, and community partners
• Managing programme administration, compliance, and reporting
• Promoting a culture of excellence, inclusion, and cultural safety

We’re Looking For:

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in youth development or a related field
• Proven experience leading a team
• A commitment to the Christian faith and values
• Strong interpersonal skills and understanding of youth development principles
• Cultural competence and a willingness to learn te reo Māori and tikanga Māori
• A relevant Level 6+ qualification (preferred) and a full NZ driver’s license

Read the FULL JOB DESCRIPTION HERE

Ready to Lead and Inspire?
Apply now via SEEK with your CV and cover letter.

Everyone is invited to join us to support our awesome students performing their hearts out on the big stage in a wide variety of Amplify Bands! Saturday 2nd August from 2pm- 4pm at A Rolling Stone, 579 Colombo Street, Christchurch Central City. Free Entry!