This spring, we teamed up with KidsCan to bring communities together through play, purpose, and partnership. Two charities aligned in values and purpose came together to strengthen their impact through joint initiatives that support thriving communities.

The Y is excited and proud to celebrate Filimaea, one of our Lagoon Centre lifeguards, who recently travelled to Wellington to compete at the New Zealand National Boxing Tournament - a five-day competition held in September. This was his third Nationals appearance, following a runner-up finish two years ago and an impressive win at the Australian Nationals in July.

Pickleball is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. A fun mix of tennis and badminton that’s easy to learn, low-impact and highly social. Accessible to all ages, it’s simple to pick up yet challenging to master, making it the “backyard sport taken up a notch” that so many players find addictive.

Raise Up, The Y’s Youth Development Programme, hosted their flagship Walk the Line event on the 30^th of August at Shed 10 in conjunction with New Zealand Fashion Week.

After celebrating youth creativity on the catwalk at Walk the Line, Raise Up turned up the volume with the New Found Sound Finals, our youth music competition showcasing the next generation of performers.

Last issue, we shared the launch of The Y’s partnership with Counties Energy to restore Te Wairoa River and give schools and young people the chance to be part of the process at Y Camp Adair. These projects tackle climate change, support conservation and bring education to life through hands-on experiences.

At just 16, Isabell McMullan began her journey with The Y, working in our OSCAR holiday programme. Through regular training and hands-on experience, she quickly learned how to support tamariki, understand their behaviours, and work as part of a team.

The YMCA community mourns the passing of Maurice (Maurie) Rendle, whose visionary leadership and lifelong dedication left an enduring mark on the organisation and the communities it serves

The Y aims to create opportunities and environments where youth can develop to become the best version of themselves. Sports Camp at The Y Camp Adair is all about making sure that no young person misses out on opportunities because of financial hardship.

JAM is a South Auckland programme aimed at empowering youth and reducing conflict and bullying in their communities. Set up more than a decade ago to address tensions between three schools, JAM has grown into a powerful model for youth leadership and connection.

Alex first joined The Y in 2019 as a Raise Up crew member, supporting youth-led events and developing his leadership skills. Now in his final year of a Marketing degree at AUT, he returned as a marketing intern, and from there, has stepped in to join The Y family as Marketing Coordinator

Walk the Line is a young fashion designer competition for high school designers and models aged 13-18. We are so excited to have The Y’s Raise Up back at New Zealand Fashion Week this year and see the future designers of NZ showcasing their garments on this prestigious runway.