Taking physical activity to the community

The Y Southland, in collaboration with community funders and Active Southland, is excited to announce the launch of an innovative initiative aimed at connecting communities through the power of physical activity.

The Y’s Community Connector is a trailer equipped with brand new functional fitness equipment and active play experiences such as portable mini golf, archery tag, bubble ball, and laser tag.

The trailer will be taken into communities throughout Murihiku and provide free opportunities for people to engage; using physical activity as a tool to connect communities in a safe, supported environment.

Y Southland General Manager Jason Holland says the concept is about reducing barriers for rangatahi and whanau to participate in physical activity.

“The Y is a community-focused organisation and we are very aware that some people, for a variety of reasons, can’t easily access physical activity opportunities. The Y’s Community Connector is about bridging this gap and bringing opportunities directly to the community, while providing a safe and supportive environment,” he said.

By removing cost and transportation obstacles, the Community Connector aims to broaden accessibility, enabling more people to engage with physical activity and benefitting from quality equipment and experiences that cater to all abilities and fitness levels.

The Community Connector has already been into several Southland schools and met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

It’s now set for its public launch at Rangatahi Zone, in Bluff, where it will be from September 26 to 28.

The following week it will be at a range of different locations, including at South Alive on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th October.

From Term 4, the Community Connector will be regularly set up at different locations throughout Southland, with the Y and other organisations teaming up to deliver initiatives tailored to the unique needs of respective communities – which will all be free.

Although the initiative had a youth focus, Holland emphasised that the Community Connector and the opportunities it will be present will be inclusive and open to people of all ages and abilities.

“At the Y we are passionate advocates for physical activity not only for its physical benefits but for the positive impact it has on social connection, mental health benefits and overall wellbeing. We think everyone should have opportunities to be physically active, so we are really excited about taking this opportunity to people.”

The Community Connector has been made possible through the generous support of key funding partners, including the ILT Foundation, Active Southland’s Tu Manawa fund, and Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation. Their commitment to empowering communities and promoting wellbeing has paved the way for this transformative initiative to come to life.

ILT Foundation Chair Paddy O’Brien expressed the board’s enthusiasm for the project and said, “we recognise the importance of community well-being through physical activity, and we’re delighted to contribute to making this equipment more accessible to our community.”

Community Catalyst, Te Rourou One Aotearoa Foundation, Stacy Hughes says “we’re excited to join the Y in this initiative, sharing a mission to make a positive impact by reducing barriers, fostering connections, and empowering Murihiku’s young people”.