FAB people lend a helping hand to Youthline Manukau

FAB people lend a helping hand to Youthline Manukau

Leading Youth Development Organisation, Youthline has had some FAB people lending a helping hand to complete the new Youthline Manukau Centre.

Formerly the old Papatoetoe Fire Station, Youthline has been given a 30 year lease of the iconic building which has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past year.

One organisation who has gone above and beyond is Baxter Healthcare, a medical products and services company with expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Baxter Healthcare in Auckland set up the FAB Committee (Fun at Baxter). As part of this, staff are given 16 hours of paid work where they go out and volunteer in the community.

Baxter Communications Manager, Garth Hemmingsen says Youthline Manukau was the perfect fit for the company to volunteer for.

"We were searching for a charitable organisation that showed commitment to providing better access to healthcare and Youthline Manukau ticked that box Many of our staff also live in the Manukau region so it's really nice for them to be able to give something back to their own community," he says.

Youthline Manukau Manager, Hannah Sellars says the new centre has been a long time coming.

"This project represents more than a decade of planning and needs analysis and it'll help enrich the local area through support services, leadership and personal development opportunities.

We estimate that the projected value of accessible free and low-cost services, programmes and information to the Manukau community will be well over 1 million, annually," she says.

Although staff and tenants moved into the centre in August, there's still plenty of work to be done.

"At its core Youthline is a volunteer organisation and we've been really grateful to everyone who's given up their time to help us get the new centre looking as great as it does."

Robyn Hardman, Baxter's Office Services Manager and FAB Committee member says Youthline Manukau has provided them with fantastic opportunities to get involved.

"Over the past year we've auctioned off IT gear to staff and all the proceeds went to Youthline, today half of us are here doing gardening and painting and back at the office we're having a sewing bee - making lots of new beanbags for the meeting rooms! Next week we are going to do some baking to sell at the Youthline Ponsonby Café... it's a win-win for all,' she says.

Hannah Sellars says it's fitting that the community are getting involved.

"Ultimately this is the community's centre, so it's great that they are able to take some ownership of it and put their own stamp on it by helping out," she says.

"We have been given a 30 year lease of the once iconic Papatoetoe Fire Station, which is in a prime location on St Georges Street, easily accessible to young people, their families and the wider community," says Project Coordinator Kate Duder.

Construction began late last year and in mid July Youthline will take over the building from Fletchers Construction. After completing some internal projects with the community involved, Youthline staff and tenants plan to move into the centre in August.

The new centre aims to engage with the broader social and health issues of the local community.

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