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Meeting the Developmental Needs of Teenagers Dame Sue Bagshaw, accompanied by her husband Phil, spoke to us regarding the latest Youth Hub project which was established in 1995. Sue began by discussing the nature of the teenagers their work is focussed on with respect to it being about how they develop over time. This includes. - Physiological growth e.g. teenage boys in particular often begin this stage with dramatic growth in their feet.
- The brain also changes in how it thinks and how emotions begin to take effect.
- People around you also start treating you quite differently as you enter your teenage years.
- Often one of the biggest arguments that begins to occur is around the amount of time teenagers want to spend on computers.
- Identity issues start to become increasingly important with respect to “who am I”.
- Spiritual development kicks in and legal issues arise with respect to when you are allowed to start engaging in various activities of interest.
Reassurance is crucial, shared Sue, with grandparents being especially valuable at this time. It is also about brain development as specific wiring that has been dormant comes more online from age 15 onwards. “Just as much support is also needed in the second half of adolescence and teenagers require a calm environment to help learning occur” Sue added. As an example, the fight / flight options begin to come into play to help teenagers avoid danger or threats. Sleep patterns also change with many teenagers tending to stay awake well after 10 p.m. What also happens is the brains wiring becomes more integrated which includes the ability to think more into the future. "So what is needed for good development?" Sue asked. She feels strongly that home, school and community need to work together to help teenagers as they develop. "It is all about connectedness" explained Sue which includes feeling they belong, are supported, experience consistency, and feel respected for their individuality. Fairness is also increasingly valued during these years. She noted that we also need to consider what environments we create to support such a structure. In terms of numbers, Canterbury youth aged 20 to 24 years represents 33% of the total population. Also, on the challenges side, there are over 12,000 youth and families which are dependent on the benefit that need even more support. With respect to the Youth Hub, Sue noted that there are 11 one-stop shops around the country. The Trust itself was formed in 2017. Its mission is to provide facilities for organisations to work from and supporting the healthy development of 10 to 25 year olds and their families. "It's about having somewhere to go where they feel safe" explained to Sue. Many organisations are very supportive of the Trust and they have been working during the last year to decide what is needed which includes ensuring the input of teenagers themselves. 1st stage of the Youth Hub development The current Salisbury Street development that is underway will include the following: - A safe Drop In centre.
- A cafe with training opportunities.
- An events centre and an art gallery.
- Quiet spaces both inside and outside.
- A creative arts and music centre.
- Hot desk spaces and interview rooms for visiting agencies.
- A market garden.
- Housing to help youth who need to get sorted in their lives.
There will also be youth workers on site available to assist when needed. This approach is based on an overseas model and focuses on building independent skills in preparing youth for moving on to their own place. The 3-5 year project has an estimated cost of 12.15 million dollars. We thanked Sue for her insight into this worthwhile project and wish her well for the future. For more information from a recent article about the Youth Hub on Stuff click here. |
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