Organizational dreams at Sarnia-Lambton Rebound for “The Hub,” a one-stop, multi-service location for youth aged 16-24, appear to be taking shape with the most recent sign being the launch of a logo design project.
Jonathan Lawrence, youth advisor at Rebound, is involved in the Hub project, which involves some 21 social service agencies who will provide a community space for youth that are considered to be in the “gap ages” of 16-24—those who are either too young or too old to receive certain services.
The Hub began as a response to that service gap.
Phase 1 of the initiative included research, with feedback leading to recommendations for a “Youth Hub.”
Now in Phase 2 of the project, the Hub organizers have a identified a location—space in St. Luke’s United Church, next door to the Dow Centre for Youth, where Rebound as the lead agency, operates.
The church congregation has worked hard to relocate some services, including its Sunday School and several community groups, to accommodate the Hub project. Without those efforts and partnership, the project would not be possible in its current form, say organizers.
“They believe so strongly in supporting young people, as evidenced by their work to help us achieve the construction of the Dow Centre for Youth,” said Jack Poirier, fund development and marketing coordinator at Sarnia-Lambton Rebound.
The vision of the community partners is to offer a collaborative, single point, wraparound youth services to better meet needs, with Rebound bringing community services to those who become part of the Hub.
A Phase 3 of the Hub project will see the addition of housing for transitional-aged youth.
The Hub facility will provide a community space to socialize with peers, get clean laundry, have a shower, provide meals, learn how to adult, and access community services.
The logo competition is on now, with a deadline of November 8, 2016. Those wishing to submit an entry can do so by emailing finished logo submissions to [email protected] (in PDF or PNG formats only). Entries can lso be dropped off at Rebound in the Dow Centre, 10 Lorne Cres., Sarnia to the attention of Jonathan Lawrence.