Creating opportunities in the south

In 2023 the Y Southland employed Robyn Bye as our Disability and Inclusion Advisor. Amongst a whole range of activities, she’s been working hard on a couple of key programmes – one is Ladders, a Sport NZ-funded initiative and partnership between us, Active Southland and Inclusive Activity Murihiku. The other is our Y Not Squad – a group of young people with disabilities who come together weekly to try new activities. Part of Robyn’s role is also about looking at all of our Y services and ensuring we are providing accessible services, programmes, and facilities.

Here’s a bit of a look at what’s been happening

Waihopai School Park Syndicate
Robyn has made many friends at the Park Syndicate at Waihopai School! She goes out there weekly and engages kids in a whole range of physical activity experiences, from the blaze pods, to tug of war, to circuit-based sessions – all with a big focus on fun! The focus is on fundamental skills and play. The comments have been outstanding:

“We have a student who had difficulty walking over a painted line on concrete, but after a term of sessions with the fabulous Robyn, this child can now jump with two feet. They have so much visible enjoyment from being able to learn new skills every week. Throughout the week between Robyn’s visits this particular student is seen to be practising their jumping and saying “Jump!”, then laughing.”

Waihopai School Park Syndicate teacher

Y Not Squad
The Y Not Squad meets weekly. It is made up of a diverse bunch of people, but it has been so empowering to see them engage with each other and support each other as they all test themselves, get out of their comfort zones and try new activities. The most recent activity was waka ama – a fantastic experience for these young people, and one they will continue to work on. It’s also been outstanding to hear how the programme is impacting participants in their day to day lives – giving them confidence to try new things in different settings.

James Hargest Student Support Centre
Robyn is working weekly with the James Hargest Junior Campus Year 7s (next term will be Year 8s) across a mix of activities, including boxing, play, and gym-based opportunities.

With the Senior Campus students, they are enjoying an awesome learning experience focused on the environment – with plenty of possum trapping, planting and more!

Tactile Trekkers Walk Group
This is a weekly walk group for people who have blindness or low vision. Robyn has taken on leading this walk group, working alongside blind Low Vision NZ – Invercargill volunteers.

To find out more about our work in this space, or have a chat about how we might be able to work alongside you, get in touch with Robyn – email robyn.bye@ymcasouth.org.nz.