COVER FEATURE: SHORE JUNCTION
The aim of Shore Junction is to save and enhance young lives as well as providing a safe haven creating a sense of belonging for all young people.
Where Ideas Collide and Future Paths Forge Building from Bowling Green.
Downstairs interior.
First floor big space.
First floor with big screens.
New community built Youth Innovation Hub opens in Takapuna The former RSA building in Takapuna has undergone a major makeover into a vibrant new North Shore Youth Innovation Hub – called Shore Junction – developed to provide an inspiring place for young people to connect, collaborate and create. Shore Junction is a facility co-designed by young people and built with the generous support of a wide range of funding organisations, Devonport Takapuna Local Board and local philanthropists. The RSA was a well-known landmark, located on the corner of Northcote Road and Mary Poynton Drive, close to Smales Farm and North Shore Hospital, that has been completely transformed and reenergised into what is being dubbed as “two floors of amazing”. Facilities for the young people at Shore Junction include a fully fitted out recording studio plus an adjoining music room for budding musicians to experiment with different instruments, a creative dance studio and an art space. Much of the upstairs has been set up as a technology centre, with a focus on accelerating the knowledge and skills of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) creating a space for young people to build, code, plan and develop their skills. Connecting with these areas are collaborative, break-out spaces with bean bags, whiteboards and large screens, which can be also be set up for youth-led events.
56
Issue 112 - August 2020 www.channelmag.co.nz
“We’ve set out to provide a place for young people to be all that they want to be and to accelerate their potential, build pathways to success and become tomorrow’s changemakers,” says Shore Junction Chief Executive Sonia Thursby, a driving force behind the project. “Our objective is to support young people to define their aspirations while also developing the critical skills, connections and networks that they will need to achieve those aspirations.” Sue Stanaway, chair of Shore Junction’s board of trustees, says the AUT Millennium Centre does a great job identifying and developing young sporting talent on the Shore; Shore Junction will be the equivalent to support young people to develop a wide range of other skills and talents. “The unfortunate reality is that some young people who stand out from the crowd can be high achievers and budding entrepreneurs, but can be typecast as nerds and are amongst the most likely to be bullied. Even worse, they are over represented in our appalling youth suicide statistics. “The aim of Shore Junction is to save and enhance young lives as well as providing a safe haven creating a sense of belonging for all young people. A space where positive connections will increase their confidence, self-worth, sense of purpose and resilience.”
