We are excited to announce Sue Bagshaw from The Youth Hub Trust as your 2024 Westfield Riccarton Local Hero!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Sue at The Youth Hub Trust to continue to grow their impact in the local community.

The 2024 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 125 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totaling $AUD1.24 million to support local communities.

Your 2024 Westfield Riccarton local Hero is:

Sue Bagshaw

The Youth Hub Trust

Determined. Selfless. Inspirational.

Sue Bagshaw has dedicated her life to positive youth development and improving health outcomes for young people. At 74 she’s still forging new ways to help rangatahi (youth) by working to build New Zealand’s first Youth Hub complete with supported housing facilities in central Christchurch.

As the chairperson of The Youth Hub Trust and a youth health doctor, Sue has been essential in launching this pioneering initiative.

Once open, Youth Hub Christchurch will provide everything young people need in one place to improve and maintain their mental health including supported housing and health and support services, to recreation and creativity. Sue aims to foster a caring community through the Hub and provide youth with the resources they need for mental and physical wellbeing.

“We aim to break the cycle of adversity and create a place of healing and belonging for our youth,” Sue shares. Under her leadership, the Hub is expected to serve at least 8,000 young people annually, making a significant impact on their lives and the community.

Sue’s motivation stems from the gaps she sees in services available to young people and the hardships they face. “There is a big gap in the provision of creative arts, recreation, support services and housing for the young people of Ōtautahi,” she explains. “What exists is hard to access, requiring money and transport, especially difficult for 18–24-year-olds. We hope that the Hub will help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and unemployment.”

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities. The finalist with the most community votes is the Westfield Riccarton Local Hero for 2024, receiving a $20,000 grant for the organisation they represent. The Youth Hub Trust will use the grant to buy appliances and equipment to complete the fit-out of the Hub’s supported housing facilities for at-risk youth.

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We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent...

Erin Manning from Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury Trust

Erin Manning supports parents facing mental health challenges related to pregnancy and childbirth as the operations coordinator at Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury Trust. After experiencing her own challenges, Erin became dedicated to helping others through support groups and community education. Around 400 people in Canterbury benefit from her work annually.

Paige Sullivan from Te Tahi Youth

Paige Sullivan ensures rangatahi (youth) have access to essential services and support as a trustee of Te Tahi Youth. Paige’s goal is for every young person to feel seen, heard and respected so they can lead hopeful, valued lives.

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If you need support, please phone Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543 354

Recognising all our 2024 nominees

View all of the Westfield Riccarton nominees and their organisations.