ROCKWOOD – The Grove Youth Wellness Hub currently has sites in Erin, Fergus, Guelph and Palmerston. And soon there will be a “sub-hub” in Rockwood.
Fran MacDonald, director of youth wellness and operational sustainability with East Wellington Community Services (EWCS), said part of her role is running the Erin Grove Main Space and working with the Guelph Grove sites.
“Rural communities are so important,” MacDonald said.
“The Grove has been looking at how we support areas outside of what we’re already supporting.”
This summer, the Palmerston Grove has been running “sub-hubs” in Drayton, Harriston and Mount Forest.
“We started to talk about how to do that in some of the smaller communities” where transportation is a big issue, MacDonald said.
Many Rockwood youths attend schools in Guelph and hear about the hubs from friends and in school.
MacDonald said the Grove has great support from both the Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic district school boards.
“We go into the schools and run programs, do tours, and they bring bus loads of students to our Guelph sites,” said MacDonald.
She added the schools also book appointments for students looking for additional support from Grove outreach workers.
MacDonald noted EWCS has heard from youths and parents in the community who want a hub in Rockwood.
Starting Sept. 21, Rockwood will operate a sub-hub out of the Rockmosa Community Centre from 3 to 6pm every other Friday.
MacDonald said like all of the permanent Grove sites, Rockwood’s sub-hub will provide wellness support, programing opportunities, and a chance to build relationships.
“We’re super-excited, and the kids are super-excited,” MacDonald said, noting the location is ideal because a lot of school buses drop off students in front of Rockmosa.
Guelph-Eramosa Township is providing the centre at no cost, but MacDonald said the Grove team is looking for sponsorships to help cover “food, programming equipment and needs and staffing.”
MacDonald said Grove hubs see youth coming in during the summer and staying all day, noting, “You think, ‘where would they be? What would they be doing if not for this space?’”
Activities like creating tie dye, painting, baking and playing sports are all free at the hubs.
“When they come in and they want to paint, or they want snacks or want a video game, there’s never a ‘no’. We find ways to bring it to them,” said MacDonald.
“We’re creating and providing opportunities that I would say maybe 50 per cent of these kids might otherwise not have access to.”
MacDonald said despite hours being limited to every other Friday afternoon, having the Rockwood sub-hub provides another opportunity for local youth to receive additional supports at any time.
Outreach workers can arrange to get youth to any of the hubs when needed.
“We’ll get them to Erin, we’ll get them to Fergus. Whatever is most convenient and comfortable for them,” MacDonald said.
While the location is not a permanent hub site, MacDonald said organizers would like to make it “similar” to other sites that have Nintendo Switches, ping-pong and pool tables, beanbag chairs and board games.
For information contact MacDonald at fran.m@ew-cs.com. To donate visit eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com.
