Latest News

Thanks NZCT

26th June 2026

Massive Thanks again to New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) for their support of our mahi serving young people on the east of Christchurch. Your grant really makes a difference! We rely on grants and donations to provide our programmes and services and it’s encouragements like these recent comments that inspires us to keep on going!
“We love the variety of activities, the authentic engagement my daughter experiences and the warmth of the staff, they are truly passionate about what they do.”
“Keep up the great Mahi Team! We so appreciate you and all the programmes you offer. It feels really special to have Youth Alive Trust in our community”

Goodbye David :( New Trust Manager JOB Opportunity

17th June 2026

Youth Alive Trust are sad to be losing the amazing David, who has humbly served at YAT for 8 years and Co-Managed it alongside James. He has brought so much professionalism, knowledge, kindness and structure to the trust, he’ll be hugely missed, but we send him with our blessings as he travels to the warmer vibrant urban hub nestled between two harbours called Auckland, where he’ll be working for another not-for-profit, and be closer to his family. We’d love to send David away with lots of words of affirmation from our community, so if you have a sentence or two, a poem or picture, please comment on this thread or email it to James as soon as possible: office@yat.org.nz

This leaves an amazing opportunity for someone new to take the helm at YAT and move it forward for the next generation. James will continue his role, overseeing Programmes, Marketing, Fundraising, Roy Stokes and Mana Ake, but he has decided to step down from his Co-Manager role, into a Programmes Lead role, allowing for a new overall Trust Manager to be appointed. This is a senior general management role with full accountability for the Trust’s strategic direction, operations, people, finances, compliance, and external relationships. This is more than just another job – it’s a calling to serve God by serving our community and positively impacting the lives of young people and whānau across the east of Christchurch. Full job description on the Seek advert and for any other questions please email: hr@yat.org.nz

https://nz.seek.com/job/92713061

 

Celebrating Mana Ake

8th June 2026

Mana Ake has marked eight years of supporting tamariki in Years 1–8 with their mental health and wellbeing.

Established in 2018 following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes, Mana Ake began as part of a Government commitment to support tamariki and has since been rolled out across regions of Aotearoa. In Canterbury, Youth Alive Trust is one of 13 NGO providers delivering Mana Ake.

To mark the recent milestone, Mana Ake providers released a special publication sharing stories and feedback from tamariki, parents, whānau and schools who have been impacted by the programme.

One nine-year-old boy shared, “The anxiety is not me and I can choose not to listen to it. It does not control my brain.”

“We’re noticing better connection and less conflict,” shared one mother. “Both our boys are talking more with us now and are initiating more conversations too. I had no idea about emotions and the impact mine could have on the kids. I’ve learnt heaps and feel really excited about being a mum again.”

You can read the Mana Ake publication online at www.manaake.health.nz/about-us

July Holiday Programmes – LIVE

28th May 2026

Kia ora,

Just 39 days until our July Holiday Programmes kick off from 6th – 9th July.  Reminder all bookings are now using the new system called “AimyOne” (not Aimyplus). You can log-in now using your existing email and password.

Bookings are now LIVE on AimyOne on the website:  https://aimyone.com/yat  (save this into your favourites)

Our programmes are split as normal into the 3 age groups, with appropriate activities. It’s just a 4 day programme because of Matariki on the Friday, but we have some fun plans. It won’t let you book outside your age group, but contact us if you have exceptional circumstances:

Website link:

www.yat.org.nz/holiday-programmes/holiday-programme-years-1-9/

Note: Activities are subject to change, due to weather, staffing or other circumstances.

Priority Bookings

Youth Alive Trust are only accepting bookings from previous families who have registered for our programmes in the past 12 months up until 12noon Wednesday 3rd June. This is to provide time for our regulars to make a booking, so they don’t miss out. After 12noon Wednesday, we will accept bookings from anyone else.

Oscar Subsidy

Check out if you’re eligible for government subsidies – it keeps going up!  If you have 3 or more children, you now need to be earning more than $3,004 per week to not be eligible for any support. If you have 2 children, you need to be earning more than $2,670 per week and if just 1 child, $2,336 per week (gross).  Many probably don’t realise they will qualify, if they just jump through a few bits of paperwork. The subsidy is only for those in work or study who need childcare. Click on the link below for full information about applying for the subsidy:

Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy – Work and Income

Booking Confirmation Policy

If you click that you’re applying for a government subsidy, then YAT’s policy is to only ‘confirm’ your booking once we’ve received your completed WINZ forms. We need to sign your form, so this can be dropped off at reception anytime in office hours, and we can send the paperwork to WINZ for you. OR, once we’ve signed it, we can take a copy, in case WINZ loose it (which does happen) and you can take it all into WINZ yourself.

Your booking will sit in the ‘Pending’ category for a week, until we’ve seen the paperwork. If we’ve not seen the paperwork, there is a chance your booking will be cancelled unless you get in touch to explain circumstances: rego@yat.org.nz

A reminder that you and we often don’t find out about how much WINZ will contribute to your holiday programme fees until after the programme, so you are responsible for any shortfall to be paid as soon as possible.

**NEW Booking Process**

  1. Log-in: https://aimyone.com/yat using your normal Aimyplus email and password. If you’ve forgotten your password, please re-set it. Do not create a new account. Contact us if you can’t log in.
  2. You will need to confirm your childs details if it’s your first time logging in if you haven’t already.
  3. Click on Blue ‘Book Now’ button.
  4. Choose the programme you want to book.
  5. Choose the days and times you want to book.
  6. Select the child you want to book, then add to cart.
  7. Add any further bookings or go to Checkout.
  8. Payment:
    1. Pay with EzyPay  – Visa or Mastercard (fees apply) – for immediate confirmation.
    2. Pay via Bank Transfer (no fees) – please reference ‘HP’ and ‘Your Name’ – we won’t confirm booking until payment is made
    3. Choose WINZ subsidy – it will sit in pending until we’ve seen your paperwork.
  9. The new system allows you to edit your own bookings, to change days or add extension days. You cannot cancel bookings yourself, to cancel a day, please give 24 hours notice and we will reimburse payment minus 15% admin fee as per our terms and conditions (attached as a reminder).
  10. Any issues or cancellations, email: rego@yat.org.nz

 

Reminder about our 2026 Changes

  1. With no price increase for 2 years, we’ve needed to increase the price of our programmes to help cover increasing costs of activities, overheads and staffing. A standard day is increasing by $2 from $40 to $42 and an outing day will increase by $3 from $45 to $48. Extension days will increase by just $1 from $12 to $13.
  2. We are changing the official finish time of holiday programmes to align with the finish time of most schools, finishing at 3:00pm. Previously we’ve had a rolling finish from 3:00pm – 3:30pm, but now our rolling finish will be from 2:40pm – 3:00pm (unless notified otherwise). Extension programme will start from 3:00pm and pick ups can be anytime before 5:45pm.
  3. We have continued to be stung by some parents not paying for holiday programmes they’ve attended, and we have not been able to collect their debt. Therefore we are changing the process of booking holiday programmes, asking everyone to pay in advance of their bookings. If paying with EzyPay, we will see your payment right away. If paying via bank transfer, please be patient, until our accounts staff member can reconcile the payment, and then let us know to confirm payment. Kirsti doesn’t work everyday, so this will only be done periodically. Oscar applicants will continue to be confirmed only once we have signed the paperwork. If you’re child is ill or a booking needs to change, and we are given 24 hours notice were possible, we are happy to reimburse or credit your account, minus a 15% administration fee (according to our Terms and Conditions). Please email: accounts@yat.org.nz for any accounting enquiries, or rego@yat.org.nz for any registration changes.

 

Feedback

We appreciate any feedback on our programmes and have a short general parents feedback survey you can complete anytime. Positive comments made are also really helpful for us when applying for funding:

Parents Survey Link

Any issues or questions about programmes, registrations or cancelations, please email us at: rego@yat.org.nz

Any finance questions, please email us at: accounts@yat.org.nz

Nga Mihi

The YAT Team

www.yat.org.nz

www.facebook.com/youthalivetrustnz

www.instagram.com/youthalivetrust

www.youtube.com/@youthalivetrust

Youth Week Event – Hot Pools

17th May 2026

Welcome to Youth Week 2026. Join us on Monday night for some Youth Voice Training & kai with Christchurch Youth Council before heading to He Puna Taimoana for an exclusive youth event. It’s just a pay what you can event – or if you’re a part of our Monday Night Surge crew – dm us for your FREE discount code.

Sign up now for both events at:

https://events.humanitix.com/dive-into-youth-week-aqua-fiesta-5fset858
https://events.humanitix.com/amplify-new-brighton

#youthweek2026

Parenting Big Emotions Event

7th May 2026

Another amazing night where 101 people turned up to listen to Catherine talk about Parenting Big Emotions and how frustration is good for them!

Click here to view the Parenting Big Emotions SLIDES from tonights Powerpoint.

If you attended, could you spare 2 minutes to complete this survey, to help us improve future events and as evidence for funding:

 “Parenting Big Emotions” Seminar May 2026 feedback  – Fill in form

 Reminder to follow the Mana Ake Facebook page for more updates and resources for parents.

Here are some of the comments from the feedback survey:
“Thank you so so much for this. I felt lighter leaving this workshop”.
“The seminar has given me a new desire to learn more.”
“Thank you. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Fantastic speaker”
“Really good practical advice mixed with the right level of scientific and expert knowledge. The speaker was excellent.”
“It’s reassuring that we ain’t alone and that its normal for my child to get frustrated etc”

Our next Parenting Seminar is pencilled in for Thursday 6th August – speaker, and topic tbc

SURVEY – Roy Stokes Hall

4th May 2026

We want to hear from you!.Click here to complete the survey. Roy Stokes Hall Survey

In 2023, the Youth Alive Trust became custodians of Roy Stokes Hall on Seaview Street, New Brighton and we are now exploring how it can better meet the needs of the our community, both now and in the future.

*OPEN DAY* If you’ve not seen the hall, come for a walk through on Saturday 23rd anytime from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.

Built in 1977, the hall has supported the former Central New Brighton School and a wide range of local groups. While it has served the community well, it has seen limited modernisation.

This is your chance to tell us what matters most, whether that’s improved facilities, accessibility, sustainability, or new ways the spaces could be used.

Your feedback will directly inform a feasibility study that will help shape what happens next

Have your say and be part of what comes next for Roy Stokes Hall.

Survey Closes Sunday 24 May.

Please share with others in the community, we want to hear as many voices as possible.

View photos of the hall at: www.yat.org.nz/roystokes

Simon & Vinnie – 20 years later

1st May 2026

We Love This video on the latest NZ Celebrity Treasure Island ❤️We don’t get many shout-outs on National TV 📺 especially relating to events from 20 years ago! You never really know the real impact of your words and work. Sometimes it takes 20 years to find out that one moment that made a real difference in the life of a young person. We love that these two good men have connected again and are able to bless one another – read the comments on socials too:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1H53FLFtLC/ 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXqI_YzDgaT/

The other memorable moment of that same night in 2006 was zapping Simon on the electric chair⚡here’s the evidence: https://youtu.be/EfCsP-2-FbM?si=i3kPUnWeMGV78Cl1

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