Mean while back in the jungle .. .

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 3, 4 May 1978, Page 8

Mean while back in the jungle .. .

In May this year it will be 10 years since the opening of the Boystown youth centre in Nelson Street. There have been a number of changes over the 10 years, not the least being the motorway development, but attendances are now higher than ever before. Boystown was built for the young people of Auckland and still gives priority to those aged seven to 19. Although originally intended for boys, girls now have equal rights within the programme and improved changing facilities were completed for them over a year ago. All young people can come and a large proportion of those who attend are Polynesians. Membership costs nothing and entry is free except during the school holiday programme when a 20 cent charge is made. Total families are particularly welcome and there is an adult recreation membership for wishing to participate in such activities as weightlifting and squash. The building complex is large

with a main gym, smaller gym, heated swimming pool, squash courts, table tennis, rifle range, lunges, library, photography dark rooms, art and craft, and music room. Young people can come in, borrow equipment and do their thing. If they want to join a regular organised activity such as playing for a Boystown basketball team or joining the photography club there is a small fee. Financial assistance is available if required. Boystown also has two small buses and they are used extensively for day trips and camps. These trips are for all the different age groups and range from a beach picnic, to a tramping and canoeing expedition, to the Urewera Ranges. Boystown is not a private club and is not run by the Police. However, of the 10 full time staff, two are police constables from the Youth Aid section. All of the staff are keen to help the kids who come to Boystown but are often so busy that they can’t do as much as they would like. One of the staff is employed as a

detached youth worker with very little programme responsibility within the building, enabling him to make contact with young people in the street. More staff would be appointed if Boystown had more money. It costs over $ 100,000 a year to run Boystown and most of this comes from donations and fundraising events. Direct 1 Government financial support last year was $2,400 and Boystown ran at a loss of $20,000. This year we will have to raise a lot more money in order to keep going. Recently Mr Will Ilolahia spent several months carrying out research on Boystown and the community. One of the problems that was apparent from this research is that not enough parents understand what Boystown is doing or become actively involved in helping supervise areas. Boystown wants parents to know what is happening but hasn’t sufficient staff to go out to the homes, it is therefore hoped that parents will

visit Boystown and talk to the staff about their children. This would help all concerned to be more effective in assisting young

people to overcome the problems of growing up in a large city.