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August 2011

I think it most appropriate that this be a great “THANK YOU” Issue.

We have been exceedingly grateful this year for the support we have received for this work.

It is true to say, the last few years have been very lean and if it weren’t for unwavering commitment of our team, to supporting the young people, we probably would have given up.

But desire, passion and commitment are unmovable forces and cause us to make whatever sacrifices necessary to achieve our goals.

Our staff have this kind of commitment and from our beginnings nearly 20 years ago first with Drug Arm, then Arndt House, then the Youth Academy and the Counselling Centre, we continue to stand with Youth and their families, supporting them through ‘Ruff times’.

And we haven’t finished yet. Our goals include a Youth Centre for Tauranga. A safe place were young people can “Chillax”, get help, enjoy great activities etc. and a healthy positive environment for all young people. We hope we can achieve this over the next year or so. We are looking at possible facilities.

I want to pay tribute to our Board of Trustees. John Donald, Andrew Turner and Nynette Martin, who bringing an enduring strength to

ImpacTauranga. Unseen work ensuring all the Governance issues are in order and providing the foundation on which the organisation stands.

Thank you to CYF, with whom we have a good working partnership and the Tauranga Schools consortium for whom we operate the Youth Academy.

Huge thank you to Lotteries and COGS, the Acorn Foundation, the Lion Foundation and the many businesses and individuals throughout Tauranga who help us in so many ways.

Finally and more recently, I thank all involved in selecting ImpacTauranga as a recipient of the Tauranga Police CIB Charitable Trust Auction. We are humbled and honoured to be considered and in response, we recognise our responsibility to fulfil our mandate to support Youth and their families in the City. May we grow in effectiveness as our resources allow and may many families have a better hope for the future because of our work.

Thank you

Russell Turner

(Director)

NYN'S NOTE:

Kia ora Katou Whanau,

We are very excited to bring this issue of Ruff Times to you and bring an overview of the great services we provide at Impactauranga.

Impactauranga is a Christian community based organisation committed and passionate about helping to support youth and their families in our community.

For over the last 20 years we have been on the front line, cutting edge working with some of the most difficult and needy youth and families. Drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, suicide, teen pregnacy, confusion and depression, truancy and out of control behaviours have brought young people across our paths and the reason why we commit our time and energy to caring, helping and supporting these young people to get through the hard times and learn strategies to be strong and do life differently.

ImpacTauranga has three main arms:

¨ Arndt House – Is a residential home supporting youth aged 12 – 17 years, who need timeout, care and protection and a safe place to live while issues are being resolved. Every year up to 20 young people live at Arndt House from between 1 week to 2 years. Plans and goals are put into place to bring resolution and reconciliation with their families. Many young people over the years have been supported to get through these difficult years.

¨ Tauranga Youth Academy – TYA is an alternative education provider supporting young people who have been excluded from mainstream schooling for many reasons. TYA gives young people a “second chance” at education through a caring and supportive environment. Currently we have 20 young people attending from throughout the Tauranga region. Some return back to mainstream schools, others to courses or to work. Every year over 50 young people would transition through our school.

¨ ImpacCounselling – ImpacCounselling is our counselling service supporting the needs of our environment and the wider community. Currently we have four counsellors available.

We have a great team at IMPACTAURANGA from the Board, Residential and School staff,

Secretarial staff and volunteers, each person has the same passion and purpose to help support our

young people and build a safer community.

A special thank you to the “Tauranga Police Charity” for choosing to support IMPACTAURANGA.

Your generosity is hugely appreciated and will help to secure and strengthen the work of

IMPACTAURANGA for the future.

Nyn Martin

Manager

IMPACTAURANGA.

TAURANGA YOUTH ACADEMY

News From Dre

The students have been faced with some realities this term, reviewing and discussing topics from dying, to smoking, to knife carrying teens. The students have begun by watching documentaries and reading newspaper reports, then by discussing these issues in groups. Some of the discussions were lively but some good points of views were offered in the end.

The students have also ventured out all over the Bay of Plenty, from a walk through the Karangahake gorge, looking at the history of gold mining in the Waihi region, to a walk around the Blue Lake in Rotorua where we discussed the history of the pink and white terraces and the eruption of Mount Tarawera.

We ventured over to Rotorua for our “Big Day Out”, where the students had an opportunity to participate in Drift carting and catch a movie. Everyone had an awesome day out!!