Tabby Besley All systems are go at Nelson's Q-Youth, where the hiring of a new staff member means the group's drop-in centre will be open during business hours all week. Tabby Besley has been appointed as drop in centre co-ordinator thanks to funding from the Canterbury Community Trust. She will work alongside Q-Youth's Executive Director Seb Stewart, who received Vodafone World of Difference funding for 2011-2012 to work full-time on Q-Youth for a year. Besley is fresh out of high school and also hopes to make a world of difference for queer youth in the Nelson/Tasman Regions. "I'm really excited about this opportunity and everything I can do with it,” she says. "I plan to network with other groups around the country so we can work together to create safe spaces where queer youth feel comfortable with their identity.” The Chair and Patron of Q-Youth, MP Maryan Street, is confident Besley will shine in her new role: "Tabby stood out from the rest of the applicants with her excellent leadership and communication skills. I am confident that she will do a great job with all the young people she works with.” Q-Youth's Drop in Centre is based at 23 New St, Nelson. Queer and questioning young people and their caregivers are encouraged to drop in any time.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 3rd February 2011 - 1:33pm