South Canterbury Rainbow Community Group Set to Empower Youth
Ara Institute of Canterbury – Timaru and the YMCA South and Mid Canterbury have recently launched an inclusive new support network for young members of the LGBTQIA+ community, set to empower and connect youth in a safe environment.
Rainbow youth, allies and friends can meet fortnightly at Ara’s Timaru campus in the Te Whare Poutama, for facilitated meetings, with food and drinks provided.
Rainbow Youth Group Facilitators Leigh Lawless (left) and Natasha Dominey (right)
The formation of the youth group was a collaboration between Leigh Lawless, an Ara Student Counsellor and Natasha Dominey, a Positive Youth Development Team Leader from the YMCA. Both individuals had been discussing the importance of having a space like this in the Timaru area, for Ara students and other local youth.
“Leigh and I started discussing the possibility of a South Canterbury support system for the Rainbow community after she told me that there were individuals on site who were struggling,” says Dominey.
“We have been working to set up the group over the past year,” says Lawless. “We have really looked into what are the best ways we can help support our rainbow youth within our community and have found that a supportive group space works for a younger age range.”
The pair will facilitate the group but will also encourage members to decide what they would like to focus on during the meetings. Whether it is guest speakers, interesting activities or just a meeting place for rainbow youth to connect with others who are in similar headspace.
They hope that as more individuals sign up, they’ll be able to have more of an idea of the needs of rainbow youth in South Canterbury.
“The last couple of years have been tough on everyone and we want to create a group where everyone is supportive and understanding of each other,” says Lawless.
“In the end, we just want to make an empowering space where people feel comfortable to come along and connect.”
This Rainbow Youth Group is important as it provides youth aged 17 and older with the chance to gain access to support outside of high school with other like-minded individuals in an environment that is fully inclusive.
For Ara students and rainbow youth in South Canterbury please join the Ara Rainbow Youth Facebook Group for more information on upcoming events.