How Hannah, 24
is supporting her community during COVID-19
Even at the best of times, to a young
person, the world can appear confusing
and frightening.
For many, this is what they found
themselves feeling during the
COVID-19 pandemic. As a team at the
YMCA-managed Jimmy’s Youth
Wellbeing Sanctuary, the situation
meant we no longer knew what the
service would look like on a practical
level. All of our work to this point was
done face-to-face with our
young people.
Something that gave us reassurance,
was that we knew no matter what
happened our intention would remain
the same. That the wellbeing,
development and encouragement of
the young people we work with would
remain. Behind this are our four pillars
of wellbeing which are: what I eat,
moving the body, firing up the brain
and stilling the mind. Alongside this,
we have our six C’s for a resilient spirit
which are: challenge, courage,
commitment, control, connection and
compassion. These are things we
channel on a daily basis with our
young people.
Jimmy’s is known as a safe space. The
young people know that if they have
any questions, issues or news we will
be there to listen and offer help.
Recently we started offering yoga, job
workshops, skate clinics alongside the
local primary school and a visiting
practitioners program.
All of these programs benefit young
people, the changes we had seen in
those attending our programs were
both behavioural and mental. So what
would happen to both us and the young
people during the crisis? Well, the team
worked tirelessly and the online content
began rolling out.
We started a supervised WhatsApp group
where young people shared how they
were getting on with school work and life
in general. We create videos that go up
daily with content such as Y-solation tips,
recipe tutorials, free yoga and pilates that
are live streamed. However, we still
Pictured above: Hannah p
sought to connect with both our broader
community and the young people in it.
A care package program had started at
my work at a local IGA and the YMCA
Peninsula Youth Services jumped on
board in being part of this. Families
were nominated through the service
and I would deliver the care packages.
My two worlds had collided and my
job at the IGA gave me a way to
continue working to help young people
as well. The packages that both
community members and the YMCA
Youth Services had paid for were going
to families to local families in need.
During every delivery, I was able to
check in with our young people (at a
distance of course).
This pandemic has produced a lot of
negatives. However, what it has shown
is just how resilient our Y services,
community and young people are in a
time of crisis.
THE CHANGES IN THOSE ATTENDING
OUR PROGRAMS WERE BOTH
BEHAVIOURAL AND MENTAL
FEATURE ARTICLE WINTER 2020
YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE 17