The new Youth Wellness Hub Ontario Northumberland facility at 15 Cavan Street in Port Hope is open for youths aged 12 to 25, providing access to services including primary care, mental health and substance use counselling, community and social supports, life skills, well-being activities, and peer support and mentorship.
The Northumberland YWHO is a project led by Rebound Child & Youth Services, and is governed by a collaborative partnership team of six local organizations who gather input to collaboratively plan and implement the services. The other five organizations are Community Health Centres of Northumberland, Community Living & Respite Northumberland, Northumberland Hills Hospital, the Municipality of Port Hope and YMCA Northumberland.
Pinder DaSilva, Rebound’s interim executive director, told Today’s Northumberland the local wellness hub has been a year in the making.
“We asked the community, especially the youth of our community in Northumberland County, what are you looking for and everyone really expressed a need for youth to have a safe, inclusive wonderful space that they could come to hang out here after school, during the day on the weekends and we really hope that’s what we’ve created here,” DaSilva said.
DaSilva said a youth advisory committee was integral in the design process of the hub. There is study space and books along with pool and ping pong tables and more, including some specific requirements.
“We have to have primary care, so having a space for our nurse practitioner, absolutely essential,” DaSilva said. “We have to have a community cupboard, a place where the youth can come, access clothing, shoes, personal hygiene products. It’s open to them, they don’t need permission. They can just come and take what is required.”
Watch the video for the full interview and a tour of the facility.
Visit www.ywhnorthumberland.ca today to learn more and access services through the online referral form.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
