A powerful partnership between Youth Voice Canterbury and Sport Canterbury brought fresh energy to Youth Week 2025 through a movement-based activation fund for rangatahi.

The Youth Activation Fund is an initiative designed to support rangatahi-led projects promoting physical activity and wellbeing.

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Running from May 19 to 25, the fund champions inclusivity and creativity, encouraging projects designed, delivered and evaluated by young people themselves, and supporting a wide range of active recreation activities.

Grants of up to $1000 were available per project, with funding decisions made by a panel of local youth, ensuring young voices were heard and central to the process.

“Only the youth of today know what the youth of today want,” says panel member Millie Edwards, a year 13 student. “By having young people involved in the decision making, we were able to give insight into and understand how and why these youth were applying for the fund and what benefits would come out of their projects in a way that we could understand their interests and passions.”

One standout project came from Safer Mid Canterbury’s Refugee Settlement Support Service, which runs a youth group for Afghan teens in Ashburton. The group used their grant to purchase volleyball equipment, enabling them to play regularly and independently.

“We actually enjoy this programme a lot,” says one participant. “It is a time to be together and meet, as well as learn something useful for morale and skill building.”

Another youth shares how the programme boosted morale and “makes our body healthy”.

“We participate in volleyball on certain days every week and I am learning how to play volleyball correctly.”

To celebrate the success of these initiatives, a Youth Activation Fund Showcase Event will be held, bringing together recipients and community leaders to share stories, connect and celebrate rangatahi-led innovation.

“This fund is about more than just movement - it’s about empowering rangatahi to lead, create and connect,” says Sport Canterbury Rangatahi Lead, Grace Ward.

“When we give young people the tools and trust to lead, they rise to the occasion. The Youth Activation Fund is proof of this."

For more information on how to engage young people in play, active recreation and sport, check out our PARS page or Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa’s guide on Youth Voices.

Article added: Monday 09 June 2025