Thrive Trust - Thames Youth Work

15/05/2026

Stoked to have the asb crew join us to share about our work in the community.

13/05/2026

If social media came with a warning disclaimer… would you still hand it to your child without hesitation?

The scary part isn’t just what young people search for.
It’s what the algorithms decide to feed them next.
Anxiety.
Eating disorder content.
Po*******hy.
Validation addiction.
Hopelessness.
Grooming.
Comparison.
Endless dopamine hits.

And most parents never even see the version of the internet their kids are living in.

This isn’t about fear.
And it’s not about pretending technology is evil.
It’s about honest conversations, awareness, boundaries, and protecting young people in a world designed to capture attention at all costs.

We created this mock warning label to start a conversation.

What do you think should come with a warning label for parents today?

30/04/2026

The evidence continues to build. Concerns around device use and social media for our young people is no longer just for the over protective alarmist.
If you have been on the fence around whether to start limiting device use. This doco may just help paint a clearer picture for you.

New medical evidence reveals how too much screen time is shrinking the brains of young Australians.*Brain Drain (2026)*► Subscribe: http://9Soci.al/chmP50wA9...

28/04/2026

Parenting around devices and social media is a battle. We get it.
This podcast is an amazing resource for parents wanting to understand and build ideas around how to support your young person.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4b06KAkcYLxmH3DL4dJ14J?si=abee0785f3d14639

One Young Mind · Episode

23/03/2026

Feeling out of your depth with tech, sleep, and the battle for attention? You aren’t alone. 📱💤

Parenting in the digital age is tough—there was never a handbook for this. Join Mike Wilkes from Thrive Trust for a community conversation, not a lecture. Let’s share what’s working, what’s hard, and how we can build a better digital culture for our kids.

🗓 When: Wednesday, 1 April | 6:30–8:00 pm
📍 Where: Thames High School Library (Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga)
📧 RSVP: [email protected]
Facilitated by Mike Wilkes from Thrive Trust - Thames Youth Work

Come along to connect with other parents and help us shape a supportive approach for our local rangatahi.

16/03/2026

We had a real kōrero on CFM recently—talking straight about how device use and late nights are impacting our young people. If you’ve ever seen kids (or let’s be honest—ourselves) stuck in that cycle—poor sleep, anxiety, short fuses—this one’s for you.

It's not just about diagnosing problems—it's about building a culture of intention around how we use tech, reclaiming that focus, and giving young people (and their whānau) tools to thrive.

Check out the full convo here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tYQ4Ujl61NqLABpuHNR0C?si=d757d53a8d174522

Let’s build a future where our devices serve us—not the other way around.

Keep an ear to the ground, we are beginning to develop tools for families, and we are looking forward to making them available.

CFM's Interviews · Episode

15/03/2026

We’re looking for someone special to join the Thrive Trust team.

For almost a decade, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside young people across our community — walking with them through challenges, building confidence, and helping them discover purpose and direction.

As the work continues to grow, we’re now looking for someone to step into a part-time Operations & Administration role to help support the team behind the scenes.

This role helps keep the wheels turning — coordinating programmes with schools, supporting staff systems, and helping ensure everything runs smoothly so our team can focus on supporting young people and families.

We’re not just looking for admin skills.
We’re hoping to find someone with heart — someone who cares about young people, loves serving others, and is excited to be part of work that is making a real difference in our community.

If you, or someone you know, might be a good fit we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close Sunday 22 March.

You can find the full role description and application details here:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/jobs/healthcare/community-social-services/waikato/thames-coromandel/part-time/listing/5834175016?ed=true&referrer=jobsmart&action=listingcreated

18/02/2026

A short helpful thought around ensuring our kids don't get too locked on their devices

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

03/12/2025

Another great moment from Res-Kids with our Moanataiari and St Francis tamariki — this time tackling the legendary “Minefield” challenge.

One partner is blindfolded.
The other has to guide them through the chaos…
while everyone else is shouting too.

It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s hilarious.
But it also lands a pretty important point:

The loudest voice isn’t always the right one.

In life, we all get pulled in different directions — opinions, pressure, noise, expectations. The question we left the kids with today was:

“Whose voice gets the final say in your life… and is that a wise choice?”

Such a powerful reminder for all of us.

01/12/2025

Res-Kids in action!

Our Moanataiari School and St Francis School Thames Res-Kids crew spent the day serving out at Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp, helping with jobs around the place and getting stuck in wherever needed.

The theme for the day was “Others Matter” — one of the pillars from E Tū Tāngata Aotearoa.
And honestly… the kids lived it out.

The camp runs amazing holiday programmes every term break, and every time we’re there we see the growth in their young leaders and the fun the kids have. So today was our way of giving back and saying:

“You matter too.”

Huge thanks to the camp whānau for the mahi you put in behind the scenes. Our young people notice it — and so do we. ❤️

Tags & Links:
Moanataiari School: https://www.facebook.com/moanataiari

St Francis School Thames: https://www.facebook.com/StFrancisThames

E Tū Tāngata: https://www.etutangata.nz/

Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp: https://www.kvcc.org.nz/

12/11/2025

My kids are learning the value of doing hard things. When asked what the theme of the trip should be the responded with NEVER GIVE UP. "Teach your children success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. Winston A Churchill