Y Southland

07/06/2026

🏓 Squads Update 🌳

Our Y Education rangatahi recently enjoyed an action-packed visit to the ILT Stadium Southland! They got to play pickleball while high-performance athletes flew around the velodrome beside them, before they tested their skills on the interactive Multiwall - well worth a visit!

We also celebrated Preschool Week, with visits to both Blue Duck Early Learning Centre - Invercargill and Lighthouse Childcare. Rangatahi had the opportunity to play, create, explore, and embrace their inner child in these unique environments – taking them right back to the fun old days!

Our Homeschool and Tuesday Squads stepped into the world of broadcasting, spending time at Radio Southland where they created their own podcast, sharing their thoughts on a wide range of topics and learning about radio life.

Our Tuesday Squad also headed into the outdoors with the amazing bushman Jason from Active Southland. They discovered native plants, learned which ones can be eaten, explored the forest through touch and observation, and picked up valuable survival skills along the way.

A huge thank you to all the organisations and individuals who continue to provide such incredible learning opportunities for our rangatahi. 💙

05/06/2026

We loved welcoming Southland Girls’ High School Level 3 Health & Wellbeing students to the Y this week for a day focused on wellbeing, confidence, and trying something new!

🏋🏽‍♀️ The students got stuck into a Pilates class, challenged themselves in a HIIT workout, and spent time in our education space learning practical time management skills they can take into everyday life.

A huge thank you to the students for bringing such great energy, and to our awesome instructors Charlie and Candice for helping make the day such a success.

Thanks for spending the day with us, SGHS – we hope to see you back again soon! 🙌

05/06/2026

✨Join our team and help shape futures.

At Y Education, we work alongside young people as they build confidence, gain qualifications, discover their strengths, and take their next steps in life.

We’re looking for a Foundation Skills Level 1 Tutor who believes in the potential of rangatahi and is passionate about helping young people learn, grow and succeed.

You might be an experienced teacher, an educator, or someone with relevant skills and a genuine desire to make a difference. What matters most is your ability to connect, create a positive learning environment, and inspire confidence in others.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Full details in the comments ⬇️

The Y is always happy to hear from people who want to work in a community-focused organisation. We have roles across youth services, youth development, in our gym team, in climbing, education, administration, management, and more! We have a range of permanent full-time and part-time roles, as well a...

29/05/2026

Y Southland's AGM is a chance to reflect on 2025, and to look ahead to what we're sure is a very bright, and exciting future.

📆Tuesday 9 June, 2026
⏰5.15pm
📍77 Tay St, Invercargill
✅RSVP to [email protected]

If you'd like to come along, please let us know by Friday 10th June!

28/05/2026

Cold Southland morning? We’ve got you covered🔥

Did you know sauna access is included with your Y gym membership? The perfect way to warm up, wind down, or recover after a session.

Just another reason the Y is more than a gym. It’s a place to move, connect and feel good.

Come check it out 👀

Y Southland is all about igniting potential and empowering greatness in everyone who comes through our doors! Gym, youth services and programmes, education, Omaui Camp, climbing ... and so much more!

25/05/2026

Another busy couple of weeks for Squads!

Our Homeschool Squad had a session with the amazing Bintang from Southern Institute of Technology, who spoke with the group about the many opportunities available through SIT and shared information about their upcoming Open Day. This was followed by a few rounds of basketball!

They also had an introduction to the ILT Stadium Southland, trying out the cool Multiwall and testing their hand-eye coordination with a few rounds of pickleball.

Our Tuesday Squad helped us put together our Youth Week event - purchasing items from stores, working through costings, and then this week joining in with our Youth Week Paint & Sip and sports activities. Some even built up the courage to jump in front of the camera for some recording!

Our Y Education Squad were visited by the phenomenal Liz from Mee & Henry Law, who gave a down-to-earth and fun insight into the world of law while answering some rather interesting questions!

They also took a tour of the fascinating facility at Recycle South, gaining a better understanding of recycling - what can be recycled, what happens when it isn’t done correctly, and where it all goes after we put our bins out. It really is an incredible facility doing some very cool things for both our planet and our community, so a huge thank you to the team! We even have a number of rangatahi now considering this as a future career pathway.

As a bonus, we also squeezed in a visit to Number 10 to get involved in their awesome Youth Week Art Pop-Up!

22/05/2026

This week, Y Southland loved teaming up with Jason from Active Southland to host a leadership camp at Omaui Camp for students from Aurora College.

The students have just begun a new leadership programme through the school, and their day at Omaui was all about building teamwork, confidence, communication, and leadership skills, while also getting to know one another and stepping outside their comfort zones.

From archery and adventure-based learning activities through to problem-solving challenges, it was awesome seeing the students embracing the day and giving everything a go.

We love seeing local rangatahi making the most of Omaui and growing their skills in such a unique environment.

A huge thanks to Jason for helping lead and facilitate such a great day alongside the Y team.

15/05/2026

Big things are happening at Y Education. ✨

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing learner and tutor stories from The Y Southland. Real journeys highlighting the every day impact of our education programmes.

Because learning doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Whether it’s building confidence, improving literacy and numeracy skills, gaining NCEA qualifications, or taking the next step toward employment or further study, our team are here to support rangatahi to learn in a way that works for them.

At Y Southland, we offer:
📚 Foundation Skills Level 1 & 2 (NCEA pathway)
🎯 Y GOALS - intensive literacy and numeracy support designed to build confidence, motivation, digital skills, and future opportunities

If you or someone you know is looking for a fresh start, extra support, or a different pathway to learning, we’d love to chat.

👉 Find out more:  https://ysouthland.org.nz/education/
👉 Enquire:
📧 [email protected]
📱 022 426 5476

14/05/2026

🎨 Youth Week is next week and we’re celebrating at Y Southland!

Join us this 19th May | 3:30–5:00pm at The Y (77 Tay Street) for an afternoon of creativity, connection, and fun for 12-24 year olds.

We’ve teamed up with Inclusive Activity Murihiku to bring you a Paint n Sip with a twist “Voices on Canvas”, where rangatahi can express themselves, share their stories, and get creative through art. 🎨✨

While the paint is flowing, IAM will also be running activities in the Y Stadium 🏀

Come hang out, try something new, and be part of a space where your voice matters.

📍 The Y Southland, 77 Tay Street
🕞 3:30–5:00pm
📅 19th May

Bring your mates - everyone’s welcome!

12/05/2026

Great to have the team from Comcol Invercargill at The Y this week for morning tea and some really positive kōrero around how we can continue supporting rangatahi across Murihiku together.

Comcol does fantastic work providing wraparound support and pathway planning for young people as they work towards education, employment, and positive futures.

At Y Southland, we know no one organisation can do it all alone. That’s why building strong relationships and connections between organisations matters so much.

We’re proud to work alongside community partners passionate about the wellbeing and future of Southland’s rangatahi.💙