CACTUS

Marlborough youth programme gets boost
Youth development programme CACTUS has received an electrifying boost with a three-year sponsorship deal with Marlborough Lines. Marlborough Lines chief executive Tim Cosgrove says the company is to sponsor the Marlborough Youth Trust $30,000 a year for three years to deliver the CACTUS programme in Marlborough.

CACTUS has programmes in Blenheim and Picton, with more than 650 youth people going through courses in Blenheim alone since 2008. Young people take part in the course for eight weeks, three mornings a week between 6am and 7am, building up to “The Longest Day”, when all their skills are put together in a series of exercises.

Tim says the CACTUS programme is aligned with Marlborough Lines’ sponsorship policy, as it supports Marlborough youth and is a well-established programme. “It has a good spread across the region, and is really youth-focused… the programme is already in place, it’s well-run and has clearly demonstrated results. “It’s the sort of thing proud to support and commit to.”

Marlborough Youth Trust trustee and police officer Dean Buckley says the proof of CACTUS’ success is its longevity. “If it wasn’t as successful, it wouldn’t be going still.” He says the course helps youth in all aspects, improving their resilience and teamwork among other things. “It’s quite powerful on the CV as well. Often young people don’t have much to put on their CV, but this is great. Wmployers see this young person has a bit of go, a bit of commitment.”

CACTUS alumni Tyrin Aberhart and Ashleigh McElhinney encouraged other youth people to give the programme a go. Tyrin says he 100 per cent recommended it. “It motivated me to go out and do stuff, to meet more people.”
Ashleigh says it helped her push herself harder mentally. She says she found it more challenging mentally than physically, especially having to get out of bed early and push herself. “They really push you.”

Youth mentor Reuben Molnar says CACTUS is an “awesome” programme. “From day one, to the finish of the programme, huge improvements in self-confidence, fitness levels, and building a connection, building a tribe, and able to connect into other things we do, events and other activities.”

Marlborough Youth Trust chair Russell Smith says the course really has a long-lasting effect.
“This sponsorship will give certainty to a programme that we know has results. It means our staff time can be put into things we want to be doing like youth development rather than chasing their tails to find finance to make things work,” he says. “We’re very very happy that Marlborough Lines have come on board.”