Queenspark Community Trust

The Queenspark Community Trust seeks to connect people and enhance lives, for the common good in our wider neighbourhood. After concerns over anti-social and criminal behaviour, the trust, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, started the Parklands Youth Centre.

The aim is for rangatahi to have a positive space in Parklands to hang out. There's games, food and people around to talk to, encourage and support the youth. It's run by a local Youth Worker, along with volunteers from the local community.

Great connections are made, intermediate aged kids playing with high schoolers is always a highlight. Quite a few ‘quiet’ young people come in curiously, and you can see these individuals grow in confidence with a sense of belonging, becoming more talkative and really enjoying coming every week.

A child playing outside poked his head round the door. He was invited in to play a game and have some food. Later, the parent went on the local social media page to say ‘I know it’s for youth, but they let my little ones play and I just wanted to say thank you. They had a blast and my little man didn’t want to leave’. This story shows the Youth Centre is having a positive effect on the wider community.

The project happens only because of funds provided by the trust and from funding organizations. It takes a lot of volunteers and a fair bit of money to do this work, and there is a need for further ongoing funds to enable this work to continue, grow and develop. We’d love your help!