Report on survey into a new youth club for under 18 teens in Motueka

June 2009

This term Year 10 Community Issues students chose an issue that relates to young people - the need for a new youth club for under 18 teens in Motueka. Although there are several church run youth clubs it is believed that there is a need for a club that caters for a wider range of activities including internet access, café, movies etc. Such a club would need community support and hopefully financial assistance from the TDC similar to the Hub in Nelson. To test community opinion about this issue the students interviewed 383 people.

In their hypothesis students believed that there would be strong community support for a new youth club and that the community would expect the TDC to financially support the youth club but also expect users to pay a small cover charge.

After getting some direction from Youth Council members and Andrew Hayward the class drafted a questionnaire, interviewed both students and adults in our community, tabulated the results, graphed the results using Excel and produced a Powerpoint slide show including statements about our findings.

The interviews took place in early June. We interviewed more males in the under 18 age group and more females in the 30 - 60 age group. In total 221 over 18s were interviewed compared with 162 under 18s. Although most people were aware of existing youth clubs there was an even division about whether they met the needs of Motueka's youth or not. 70% said they supported a new youth club.

The most popular facilities desired for the youth club were internet access, movies, a gym (weights room maybe), and café.

A central location such as the old United Video building or the Bakehouse was preferred by 70% of under 18s and 57% of over 18s.

Two thirds were prepared to support fund raising for the youth club and 82% expected the TDC to provide financial assistance.

Under 18s were then asked four questions relating to the use of existing clubs and their use of a new club if it met their needs. About two thirds indicated that they did not use existing youth clubs and of those who did just 27 used it weekly. 61% indicated that they would use a new club if it met their needs and 57% indicated that they were prepared to pay a small cover charge.

Click here to view the survey questions and results »

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