Youth in Timmins are being given a chance to let their community know what they need.
This is thanks to a new Youth Wellness Hub and its pop-up events.
A quick kick of the ball and a chance to chat is the name of the game at the youth wellness pop-up at Gillies Lake Conservation Area in Timmins.
There will be many of these events popping up around the city in the coming months all aimed at determining what young people want from their community.
Anne Vincent is the Youth Wellness Hubproject coordinator.
"It's one place for youth to receive mental health and addictions supports, everything related to that, so peer support, counselling support, physical activity, food, tools for 'adulting’.” said Vincent.
It’s a place for youth, led by youth.
The project can't afford a brick-and-mortar building just yet, so they'll be setting up wherever they can and reaching out, building a sense of community in the process.
"It really does take a community to raise a child, so there were a lot of natural supports, but fast forward to now. People live all over the place, families are smaller, families look different, and there are not always those natural supports." said Vincent.
The group aims to build those supports through peer counselling and togetherness.
Amy Beaven is a youth volunteer with the hub.
"Kids and youth here, we've always said there's nothing to do right? So, we want to create a space that there's something to do, but also has those services that are present if they are needed." said Beaven.
For many young people it's as simple as a place to talk, free of judgment.
Jonathan Lavergne is also a youth volunteer with the hub.
"Have a welcoming experience. It's not like, you know, when you go see a professional, it really makes you feel like you have a problem. Like, you don't want that, you want somebody that's going to be very welcoming." said Lavergne.
And for many that come to the Youth Wellness Hub pop-ups, that person is often another youth.
While a formal location is still a far off idea, for now, youth in need can always swing by pop-up hubs if they need to talk.
