The “devastating” closure of a long-running Dunedin youth non-profit reflects successive governments’ failure to invest in the sector, its chairman says.
Dunedin-based Southern Youth Development (Syd) — formerly known as the Malcam Trust — is ceasing operations after 38 years.
It will merge with Dunedin community-based kaupapa Māori provider Te Hou Ora Whānau Services (THO).
Six fulltime-equivalent roles — a “majority” of Syd staff — would be lost through the merger, while assets in general would be transferred to THO.
No Syd programming would continue, although THO planned to carry on its core work with youth.
Syd chairman Ben Sommerville (Rangitāne o Wairau) said the decision was not made lightly — it followed an extensive review of the financial landscape and reflected increasingly challenging conditions in the youth development sector nationwide.
“All of our admin staff and our youth workers will be looking for other employment and that was a really tough decision to make.”
Details of how Syd funding would be allocated were still being negotiated, Mr Sommerville said.
Southern Youth Development’s board had considered several options, including “shutting up shop and just distributing resources out”, but felt THO had the best ability to continue its work championing youth.
“I think through successive governments’ actions or inactions, there’s been an increasing demand for the services that youth organisations and people within the sector provide, but increasing requirements … with delivering those services, as well as, most importantly, decreased funding,” Mr Sommerville said.
Increasingly, organisations were being asked to deliver equivalent or higher levels of service with fewer resources, he said.
“We might not be the first, but I’m sure we won’t be the last that has to go through this process.
“Though this is a devastating loss for our whānau here at Syd and the wider hāpori [community], this is a new expression of our purpose as those who care for young people in the region.”
He confirmed there would not be Syd programmes in future.
THO kaihautū (general manager) Desiree Mahy (Tūhoe) said the organisation was eager to continue Syd’s core work.
“Enterprise and uplifting experiences for youth, engaging them in things like the technology drive, reducing waste around our neighbourhoods, and just thinking about how we can live in a different way into the future that makes for much better outcomes for their children,” Ms Mahy said.
“We can stay in that bitter place, feeling a bit resentful about the negative way in which [Syd has] come to end, or we can recognise that actually we can carry that legacy forward.”
Syd had a strong general community presence while THO was well-known in Māori communities, she said.
“For those that know Syd and know the work of Malcam, they can be assured that those kaupapa (initiatives) and the outcomes that they have supported … are going to continue, albeit under a different organisation, and we will need that ongoing support to be successful.”
Syd was founded in 1987 by Malcolm Cameron, who had been involved with the organisation for 30 years before stepping back.
It will conclude operations on December 15.