The Well Community Collective opens new Goderich Hub
- Alex Hunt
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
The Well Community Collective has launched a new youth hub in Goderich, providing free, walk-in services and support for youth with no appointments, no fees, and no barriers.
The Well Community Collective works to support rural and marginalized youth and communities by partnering with service agencies that provide access to evidence-based mental health and substance use services, while addressing the social factors that affect overall youth well-being.
“We support youth between the ages of 12 to 25 with our mandate, The Wellness Ontario Model is the best model for us which is run by the province and evidence based,” said Shannon McGavin, executive director of The Well Community Collective.
“What this model is that anyone between those ages is able to walk in the youth hubs rather than in our Goderich, Exeter, or our Kincardine site and soon to be our Listowel site and they can receive the care that they need when they need it.”
McGavin said that some of the challenges that youth face today is transportation and food insecurity. The new Goderich site also offers substance use and mental health services in their downstairs clinic.
All services are drop-in, and no prior appointment is required. A lunch is served every day to ensure youth are fed.
“We started this as a really tiny team but the biggest part that we appreciate is the collaboration with the youth partners, services agencies and grassroots organizations,” explained McGavin.
“Our end game is to support youth where they are the best that we can. We have so many partners standing behind to make sure that youth get the services they need.”
To address accessibility challenges, the hub was chosen to be close to local schools. The goal is to make it easier for young people to walk in and access the services they need without worrying about transportation.
Food insecurity has also become a growing concern according to McGavin, with rising grocery prices and ongoing housing issues creating more barriers than solutions. She hopes the new hub will make a meaningful impact by supporting youth through these challenges.
McGavin explains that the hub’s top priority is to initiate relationship-building, with a focus on creating a warm, welcoming space where youth feel comfortable and free from shame or judgment.
The goal is to meet young people where they’re at, treat them with respect, and build trust through open conversation, one day at a time.
“Each location that we have is different based on the youth that go there. They’re needs and interests are different as well as their preferences,” said Reba Oldridge, co-director of youth engagement and collaboration at The Well Community Collective.
“For example, in Exeter, the youth really like Dungeons and Dragons, so we really try to support that.”
The Well Community Collective is expanding its volunteer program to offer more opportunities for community involvement.
Depending on their skills and interests, volunteers may lead activities such as cooking or gardening classes or simply spend time connecting with youth and offering friendship and support.
“If someone has a special talent or skill, they would like to share with the youth we would fully support that, so we do program each week,” added Oldridge.
“It could also be yoga or painting, and it can be very fulfilling for that individual to share their skills with the youth. It’s great for people to come in and help foster that safe space is super important.”
The Well Community Collective Hub in Goderich is at the Kinsmen Centre on Keays Street, and open every Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For more information on The Well Community Hub in Goderich visit https://www.thewellcc.ca
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