The Shed gives youth a place to belong
The Shed gives youth a place to belong
11 April 2022
Pizza was on the menu at a recent gathering of The Shed youth program at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corps in Western Australia.
Eighteen months ago, the youth space at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corps, better known as ‘The Shed’, was a vast, empty warehouse on the corps site. But youth leader Cameron Mallory saw its potential. He had a vision to convert the space into a hub for young people across the Western Australia Goldfields community.
Bringing the idea to then corps officers Lieutenants Gavin and Jodie Jones, Cameron pioneered a collaborative program involving other churches in the area that The Salvation Army would manage. After all, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corps didn’t have a youth group at the time, but some nearby churches did!
Cameron got the green light, and work started on fitting out the shed, including a lounge, PlayStation, library, puzzle and games area, and more. Cameron proposed a 12-month pilot program in October 2020, and soon after, Lieutenants Bethany and BJ Baillie arrived as the new corps officers and immediately came on board with the initiative.
“It’s become more of a success story than we ever anticipated,” shares Cameron. “What we do at The Shed varies from week to week; there is literally something for everybody. One of the things we found was that when young people feel ownership of a space they have more of a sense of belonging. And it’s huge in the Salvos that we make sure young people know they belong, that they are loved and cherished.”
Chat time on the outdoor basketball court at The Shed.
Every Saturday from 3pm to 9pm, Cameron and a team of mentors from local churches and other youth agencies open The Shed to young people. Some gravitate towards the gaming area, others prefer the quiet of the library or puzzle table, and some play basketball on the AstroTurf outside. A few teens will access the craft cupboard and create art for the walls. Irrespective of their hobbies, the teens come together for a chat and a meal at dinner time.
“Church isn’t just Sundays – it’s every day. It’s what we do, how we speak, and how we interact,” explains Cameron. “For a lot of the kids who come to The Shed, this is their only connection with church. [This is how] they are fed spiritually.”
Since The Shed youth space opened, Cameron and his team have seen substantial personal growth in the teens. One example is Peter*, who Cameron says was almost forced by his parents to come along due to being so reclusive at home. Yet, after some time at The Shed, he opened up and is now empowering other teens to socialise.
“For the first hour and a half, Peter was tucked away in the corner [of The Shed] and didn’t socialise. We persisted and invited him to come and shoot air hockey. We tried different activities until we found something he wanted to do. Now he is there every single week just after The Shed opens,” says Cameron.
Air hockey is a popular activity at The Shed.
“When we had our Summer Party, we paired him with another person, and he went out of his way to make that person’s day. [This work] is not just transforming his life; it’s him transforming the lives of others! It’s more than empowering young people to belong; it’s enabling them to bravely develop skill sets and build relationships.”
After seeing The Shed youth space flourish in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Cameron’s encouragement for other Salvos is clear.
“If you feel something is lacking, listen to that. If there is nothing for young people, just do something. We didn’t have anything like this for young people, and I simply presented the idea to our corps officers at the time,” he shares. “We built this from a storage shed that was run down with cobwebs everywhere. If we can do it, you can too!” #kalgoorlieboilderc
*Name changed for privacy
Comments
What an inspiring testimony! Praise God for the vision of Cameron Mallory and for the support provided by Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corps and by other churches, in creating a safe and fun place for young people to meet together. The positive benefits experienced by the young people attending will not only help them feel a greater sense of belonging and purpose, but will in turn impact their families and friends. The future is looking bright for the WA Goldfields community!
Great idea what about a women’s shed. Mens sheds seem to be prolific. This is a youth shed much the same as we have.