Youth Advisory Board

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We are now recruiting for the next Youth Advisory Board!

2021 Mandate Letter

To:                      North Hastings Youth

RE:                      Youth Advisory Board

Date:                  November 14, 2021

If you are between the ages of 13 and 24 years of age, I am pleased to invite you to become a Youth Advisory Board member for North Hastings Children’s Services.

This term the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) mandate will be to focus on addressing Mental Health and Addictions in our community. You will do this through paid consultation and volunteering with NHCS and community partners.

We know that this issue effects us all, but it has been particularly hard for many of you and many who have friends and family members that struggle with mental health and/or are in active addiction. We want you to help be an important influence of this Youth Advisory Board term. The community needs YAB to promote services for mental health and addiction to their peers and families. You will have the opportunity to make a difference by helping service providers deal with this very important issue.

With the support of the community and United Way Hastings Prince Edward, the 2019-2021 Youth Advisory Board successfully achieved the mandate of opening the youth centre, YOURSPACE. We expect this accomplishment will support the new mandate.

The application can be found at this link or email yab@nhcs.ca,  www.nhcs.ca/yab, www.facebook.com/bancroftyouthadvisoryboard, by texting Sarah at 613-334-1262 or Nicki at 613-334-1791.

If you are a community member who would like to donate to help support the paid youth consultations, snacks or transportation, please contact me at janderson@nhcs.ca.

We are determined, with your help, to change the future for someone else struggling!

Thank you,

Jessica Anderson,

Executive Director

Find the application here!

We are seeking your help and connections in finding passionate youth who are interested in making a difference to join us.  Our goal is to connect with a variety of youth across North Hastings so that we have equal representation, that all voices are heard, and that the work we do continues to be truly youth led. Individuals from existing North Hastings youth groups are encouraged to advocate for their group’s own values, ethics, and beliefs while influencing adults and other youth in the community.      

To be considered a core advisor, a commitment of a monthly meeting is required with the addition of community involvement when requested. If this level of commitment is not attainable, we are still interested in all opinions and encourage all youth, as resource members, to participate in consultation of topics that they are passionate about. Honorariums and/or volunteer hours will be given to all youth that consult. 

We acknowledge the work you do in the community and the relationships that you have built and continue to build with youth people; therefore, we hope that you can pass this information along to any youth that may be interested. Completed applications can be either sent in via email to yab@nhcs.ca or dropped off at North Hastings Children’s Services, Attention: Youth Advisory Board. For more information on our Youth Advisory Board please email yab@nhcs.ca, drop-in to NHCS or call/text Nicki Howie at 613-334-1791 or Sarah Phoenix at 613-334-1262!

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Youth Advisory Board

This is a program for guiding achievement, developing leadership and promoting well-being among families and youth in North Hastings.

This program started in October 2014 and has expanded the reach of NHCS to the Youth of the Community to provide them with skills, training and employment. 

Watch closely to see how these Youth will influence positive changes within our community. 

The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a group of 13-24 year olds that reside in the Town of Bancroft or within the outlying Townships/Municipalities that encompass North Hastings.  Under the guidance of adult ally’s at the lead agency, North Hastings Children’s Services, YAB has been running consistently for 7 years now giving local youth the opportunity to consult and provide input on projects, events, presentations, and decisions made in and around the community.  Since 2014 the group has successfully completed projects that have improved the quality of life for youth in the form of Nutrition, Literacy, Mental Health, Inclusion, Art and Culture, and continue to take part in community outreach events on a regular basis. Not only have their projects given other Youth the opportunity to take part in their initiatives, but they have directly and indirectly impacted children and adults in the community, making Bancroft a better place.

Samples of YAB projects and activities;

• YOURSPACE Youth Centre

• Rainbow Crosswalk

• Crime Survey

• P.A.S. Panic Anxiety Stress Kits for High School

• Talent Contest

• Restorative Justice Circles

• Nutrition Kits for North Hastings Elementary Schools

• “Operation Youth” - A positive ticketing program in partnership with the OPP, Subway and Jug City that gives free vouchers from police officers for hot chocolate and freezies to youth when they are seen doing something positive.  A local take on “Project Heat/Freeze”.

• “A Piece of You” - Community Puzzle Art Project displayed at Riverside Park in Bancroft

• Event Partnerships such as March Break Community Day, Beadom Boredom, Community Breakfasts and Lunches

• Awareness Campaigns on Suicide Awareness, Mental Health and Child Abuse

• Volunteer and Paid Consultation for organizations such as United Way, Youth Collective Impact, Town of Bancroft, Bancroft OPP among others

Stay tuned for more details!