‘Presence Based Youth Work’. Young New Zealanders need more time spent with them. They need more listening, more encouraging and more “hanging in there”. More people who can be there for them. It requires an approach based on relationships not programmes. It encompasses role modelling, being accessible to young people and being around to help young people make good choices.

This approach benefits not only individual young people but the communities they are a part of. As we know, great youth work (and education) should fit within and contribute to vibrant, diverse and connected communities.

A young person’s life is 24-7. Young people have multiple “worlds” they interact with (see figure 1 below). The stronger the connection between the young person and the four worlds around them the more successful their transition to adulthood will be.

Figure 1: Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa (MYD)

We start with local schools and local churches working together.

Schools are where young people are.

Churches are embedded in their local communities. They have a high degree of voluntarism and form natural relational communities. Churches can provide good role models and safe places for young people. Local churches and local schools share a genuine concern for young people. It doesn’t take long for them recognise that their common interests far outweigh their differences.

24-7 YouthWork formalises a local relationship between a school and a church based upon shared outcomes and agreed upon practices. This keeps everyone happy and unlocks local resources to get on with the job of being there for our young people.