By Heeni Collins

Serving youth and their families is the recently-restored mission of the Wellington Boys and Girls Institute, known as BGI. A new director with a strong business and youth-work background has suggested a fresh meaning for the initials "Bloody Good Ideas".

BGI was first established in 1883 when a group of young members of St John's in the City Presbyterian Church donated money to set up bathing facilities for disadvantaged children and youths.

But once the Wellington City Council began establishing swimming pools in the 1970s, the BGI needed to find a new sense of purpose and decided to focus on training swimmers for international competition.

When this proved financially unviable, the BGI board decided to first rent out, and eventually sell the swimming pool and gym facility in Tasman St. The institute returned to its initial mission of serving youth, preferably in innovative ways.

It established a programme called Footsteps, which involves 'adventure therapy' on a high ropes course in Wainuiomata, and is able to attain breakthroughs in personal development not possible with other types of counselling. Clients include refugees, migrants, mental health consumers and school groups.

A reported comment from one "at risk" participant was: "It teaches people who are jealous of other people's property not to go round wrecking it!" But the board wantedto support other projects as well, and sought a new director to provide leadership.

Ross Davis had given up his successful printing business in Auckland to serve youth in his church and undertake a year's study in theology. He has accepted the position of BGI director with enthusiasm and confidence in God's guidance.

"The board wanted me to look for gaps. They thought maybe they were missing something right under their noses," says Ross. This turned out to be true, as Ross realized that several existing local programmes were "Bloody Good Ideas", working successfully within the BGI's mission area, but needing new financial support and guidance.

One was Project Adventure, which was close to financial collapse. Project Adventure had developed and owned the high ropes course at Wainuiomata, and ran successful programmes on mentoring for youth and an extensive youth 'action-research' project to learn about youth concerns and respond to them.

The BGI bought the Project's assets (the ropes course, computers and furniture), and with additional funding from other sources (WCC, COGS, Rotary), has moved its programmes to new strengths.

About eighteen mentors are involved in the mentoring programme called Challenge for Change (C4C) which was set up by Project Adventure in 1999. Credited with reducing youth crime and turning lives around, the project involves mentors spending up to ten hours a week with youths (aged 9-13) for twenty weeks.

Some staff of Microsoft New Zealand approached Ross about becoming mentors, but to make best use of their skills, he has proposed that Microsoft staff and school groups work together to develop marketing plans for the ropes course. The best plan will be implemented and raise funds for the group's school.

The third programme now run by BGI, is an 'action-research' project which has involved surveying 1000 Wellington and Lower Hutt youth. One result was the production of colourful, personalised posters and brochures to better inform young people about services available for them.

While church-based youth services are not listed on these products, the Christian-based BGI is committed to improving links between community and church youth agencies in future. Another programme now run by the BGI is a youth co-ordination and development project in the northern suburbs of Newlands/Johnsonville.

St John's in the City has been closely involved with the BGI for 120 years. Since it was set up, the president of the BGI board has always been the minister of St John's. The church provides the institute with low-cost office space next door to the church, BGI staff help at church camps, and church members are interested in contributing personally to youth programmes.The BGI and St John's are also discussing plans for a youth cafe on the church site, possibly with beer and chips on the menu. The project has already gained support from Microsoft and the city council. Styles, eh?

Ross sums up the BGI approach: "We use a business model, have a wide range of expertise, truckloads of passion and a belief in listening hard to the community."

For further information email ross(at)bgi.org.nz; ph 04 385 9549