Thrive Trust - Thames Youth Work

21/09/2026

We headed out today to explore an adventure for our youth. Instead we discovered a gentleman in need of help. We were glad to be in the right place at the right time.
Thanks for saving us from attempting to carry him out Philips Search & Rescue Trust. We were very greatful for your team. Total legends!

16/09/2026

Wow, it’s been really encouraging to see a group of awesome local ladies get behind our youth work and start working towards establishing a permanent op shop here in Paeroa.

Their vision is to create a place where people can find quality clothing at amazing prices, where there’s space to connect with others in the community, and where the proceeds can help provide a consistent source of funding for local youth work.

Next week’s shop is just a two-day pop-up, but it’s a chance to support the vision and see what it could become.

So if you’re keen to back something positive for Paeroa — or you just love a good bargain — come along and check it out.

Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th September
9:00am–4:30pm
Paeroa War Memorial Hall

Most items are under $5, and every purchase helps support the work we’re doing with local young people.

PAEROA — our Pop Up Op Shop is back next week! 👕👗🧥

For 2 DAYS ONLY, we’ll be filling the Paeroa War Memorial Hall with pre-loved clothing, bargains and plenty to rummage through — with most things under $5.

Even better, all proceeds go straight back into supporting local youth work, helping Thrive Trust continue walking alongside young people in our community.

📅 Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th September
🕘 9:00am–4:30pm
📍 Paeroa War Memorial Hall
💰 Most items under $5
💳 Cash & EFTPOS available

Come down, have a look, grab yourself a bargain and help us turn recycled clothing into something that makes a real difference locally.

Tag someone who loves a good op-shop find and share this around!

14/09/2026

If you’re around Paeroa this Thursday, why not pop into the Carehouse for some free soup and rolls and a good yarn.

Our Res-Kids crew from Paeroa Central and @ Miller Avenue School have been out promoting it over the last week as part of their community project — putting some of what they’ve been learning into action and helping support something positive happening in their own community.

🍲 Free soup & rolls
📍 Carehouse, 21 Willoughby Street, Paeroa
🕛 Thursday from 12pm

Come for lunch, come for a chat, or just come and warm up! ❤️

02/09/2026

We’re looking for a new Youth Worker to join the Thrive Trust team.

We’re looking for someone who connects naturally with young people, brings vision and purpose, and will work well as part of our team.

The role includes mentoring young people in Thames High School and Paeroa College, alongside helping deliver wellbeing programmes in local primary schools.

There’s flexibility in how the role could look — 15–35 hours per week, based in Thames, Paeroa, or across both communities.

If you’re already connected locally, we’d love to hear from you. We’re also open to someone from outside the area who feels drawn to this kind of work and wants to invest in our community.

Interested, or know someone who could be a great fit?

Check out the full role and apply through the Trade Me link below.

Feel free to share or tag someone who should see this.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/jobs/healthcare/community-social-services/waikato/thames-coromandel/part-time/listing/6112325792

18/08/2026

A massive thank you to The Lion Foundation for funding our new youth work van. 🚐💙

I used to run a little property servicing business, and one of the great things about it was how simple the model was:

Do the work.
Get paid for the work.

Charity work often feels a little different.

Do the work.
See the need.
Keep showing up.
Then figure out how to pay for it so you can keep doing it.

That’s why support like this matters so much.

This van isn’t just a vehicle. It means we can get young people out on adventures, into programmes, home safely, and into spaces where some of the best conversations happen.

And it’s organisations like The Lion Foundation, alongside the businesses, churches and individuals who choose to get behind what we do, that make it possible for us to keep showing up where it matters most.

So genuinely — thank you.

You’re helping put fuel in a whole lot more than just a van. 💙

04/08/2026

Trust takes a long time to build — and it can be broken in a moment.

Last year, one of our youth workers did a trust fall with a student who was meant to catch her. He was confident, she trusted him, and at the last second he turned and walked away because he thought it would be funny.

It wasn’t.

She badly hurt her tailbone, and it took a long time before she felt able to trust students to catch her again.

It raises an interesting question for us at home:

Are there things we regularly do that, to our kids, feel like we are dropping them?

Some kids would jump out of a tree into our arms without a second’s hesitation. Others may never feel that safe. For our more guarded kids — especially those who already struggle to trust — we need to be intentional about continually making deposits into the positive.

When we say we will be home by four, let’s do our best to be there. When we promise something, let’s make sure we follow through. When we can’t, let’s be honest, apologise and repair it rather than pretending it didn’t matter.

Promises can win a child’s heart in an instant. But when we repeatedly fail to follow through, they can slowly erode the trust underneath the relationship.

Our kids don’t need perfect parents or perfect adults. They need adults whose words can be trusted — and who know how to repair things when they get it wrong.

29/07/2026

Sometimes we brush things off simply because we think, "No, no, that can't be true... because I haven't seen it."

Yet when we take the time to start looking, we start to see things we almost wish we could unsee.

nzherald.co.nz put together a series that can be found on YouTube highlighting what is going on in our social media-driven digital worlds.

Big Tech shifts from attention to affection with unregulated chatbo...

14/07/2026

We had an awesome day out as a team celebrating the term that was.

The greatest reminder in the day... don't let age or past experience rob you of opportunities ahead!

Our highlight was Helen Port joining us on the Adventure.

When she came on board as our administrator she told us in the interview that she was all in to serve... except for the end of term outdoor adventures.

But when our first one arrived she put her hand up and said "count me in".

It was such a privilege having her join us, and a great reminder to never write ourselves off and seize each opportunity that comes our way.

01/07/2026

There are some moments in life that leave us questioning if we are good enough, if we measure up, or if we deserve to be in the room.
Last week Michael Wilkes had the privilege to serve and sharing at the Aspiring Leaders' Forum. In the room were close to 100 young leaders from across the nation who had been nominated by other people who saw the mark of a deep leader. Many in the room wondered if they deserved to be there, felt anxious, but showed up anyway.
And what they discovered was that they indeed had a seat at the table, they had a story to share, and a depth in their story that could inspire and lead.
So never underestimate yourself. You are often a reflection of the good others see in you, and less of the doubt you see in yourself!

21/05/2026

Pop up up shop at the Paeroa war memorial hall today.

Fundraising for our youth work!

9.30am-5:00pm

Come get yourself a bargain!