🙋 About The Loft:
Clarenville & Area Community Youth Network (CYN)

Welcome to The Loft!
We are a dedicated, safe, and dynamic space where youth aged 11 to 18 from Clarenville and the surrounding area can connect, grow, and gain the essential skills needed to succeed in work and in life.

The Loft is more than just a place to hang out; it's a launchpad for your future.
Best of all? Our drop-in programs are 100% free!

🛠️ Prepare for Work & Life: Our Core Services

We offer comprehensive development and support services designed to build confidence, skills, and opportunity.

1. Job Readiness and Career Development

Get a competitive edge in the employment world with hands-on support:

First Job Support: Understand the workplace, gain essential experience, and feel confident in your role.
Resume Building: Personalized assistance to create professional, impactful resumes.
Interview Preparation: Practice interviews and receive constructive feedback to nail your next conversation with an employer.
Life Coaching & Job Readiness: Receive helpful advice, tips, and personal guidance.
References: Staff can provide professional references when you need them.

2. Life Skills and Personal Support

We provide the tools and connections for personal growth and well-being:

Essential Life Skills: Workshops on communication, time management, budgeting, and other critical skills.
Peer Support: Connect with other youth, share experiences, make new friends, and find a listening ear.
One-on-One Staff Time: Our friendly, experienced staff are available to provide support, answer questions, and offer guidance privately.

🤝 Community Connections & Outreach

The Loft works closely with local partners to bring valuable outside resources directly to you.

Youth Outreach Worker (NL Health Services):
Available right here at The Loft every Tuesday and Thursday for support, a monthly activity, and a free snack!
Presentations:
We regularly host vital information sessions from partners like Violence Prevention East and NL Health Services.
Community Partners:
We proudly collaborate with organizations like The Town of Clarenville , Clarenville Area Recreation Association, (CARA), Avalon Employment Inc., REACH (Regional Action Committee on Housing),Violence Prevention East, Autism society of Newfoundland and Labrador (ASNL) , Clarenville Lions Club or local churches, Clarenville farm and market and so many more organizations to enhance our programming.

🎨 Activities, Fun & Food

The Loft is where support meets spectacular fun!

Drop-In & Program Hour

School Year (Sept–March)
Monday – Thursday 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM -Plus special events on evenings & weekends!

Summer Months (July-August)
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30AM-4:30PM which features a structured Summer Camp Ages 11-15
( Registration and Camp Fees Apply)
Tuesdays & Thursdays Drop in days -11:30 AM – 4:30 PM For Ages 15-18 ( No Sign up or Registration Required)

Fun & Engaging Activities

Recreation & Games: Get active with street hockey, basketball, volleyball, or chill with board games and our Xbox, Wii, and Switch consoles.
Creative: Dive into Arts & Crafts, creative workshops, and Robotics.
Food Focus: Enjoy a warm meal during many programs, plus free snacks and quick meals.
Our Snack Shack has low-cost items ($0.50–$2.00) and free fresh fruit and Granola Bars

Special Events & Projects

The Beat Drop: Our annual signature event in May, celebrating youth talent, music, and creativity.
Community Garden: Youth grow vegetables throughout the summer, culminating in a shared meal in the fall.
Local Involvement: Join us for our Movie & Pizza Nights, Santa Clause Parade, Pride Parade, Trunk or Treat, Escape Rooms and so much more.

🚀 Volunteer & Job Opportunities

Looking to gain experience, boost your resume, or earn some cash? We’ve got you covered.

Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

The YAB is your chance to lead!
Help steer The Loft by sharing ideas for programs and events.

Incentives: Earn letters of recommendation, valuable volunteer hours, leadership skills, resume enhancement, and increased visibility with local employers.

Paid Student Opportunities

The Loft actively hires students for part-time and summer roles through grants like AMPLIFY, SWASP, and Canada Summer Jobs. These roles can also help you earn essential career development hours for school!

We also proudly host work placements for students enrolled in post-secondary programs (college or university). This provides students with hands-on, real-world experience in youth work, social services, and non-profit management to support their academic studies.

💼 Our Leadership: The Loft Board of Directors

The Loft – Clarenville and Area Community Youth Network is a non-profit organization governed by a dedicated and passionate volunteer Board of Directors. Our Board is comprised of community leaders, parents, professionals, and stakeholders committed to ensuring The Loft operates effectively and remains a vital resource for local youth.

Who We Are

Our Board members serve as trusted stewards of The Loft's mission, representing diverse sectors of the community, including education, business, health, and local government.
This diversity ensures a broad perspective when making decisions that impact the youth we serve.

We are individuals united by a single purpose: to champion the health, potential, and success of every young person in the Clarenville and surrounding area.

What We Do

The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall governance and strategic oversight of The Loft.
We are not involved in the day-to-day operations, which are managed by our dedicated Executive Director and staff team.

Our primary responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning: Setting the long-term vision, goals, and direction for The Loft to ensure our programs meet the evolving needs of the youth community.
Financial Oversight: Ensuring responsible financial management, approving the annual budget, and overseeing fundraising activities to maintain the sustainability of our free services.
Policy & Compliance: Establishing governance policies and procedures and ensuring the organization complies with all relevant provincial and federal regulations and non-profit standards.
Executive Support: Hiring, supporting, and evaluating the Executive Director who manages all daily operations and staff.
Community Advocacy: Serving as public advocates for The Loft, promoting our mission, and building partnerships within the broader community.

🤝 Meet Our Current Board

Chair- Kim Lane

Vice Chair - Paul Power

Treasurer - Wina King

Secretary - Chelsea Stringer
Executive Director - Karissa Lucas

Directors - Jessica Andrews, James Spencer, Morgan Fewer

The Critical Role of the Youth Representative

We are proud to include a Youth Representative, nominated through our Youth Advisory Board (YAB), as a full voting member of our Board. This position is fundamental to our commitment, ensuring that the strategic direction and policies of The Loft are always informed by the direct needs, concerns, and perspectives of the youth in our community.

🌟 Get Involved

The strength of The Loft lies in the commitment of our volunteers. We are always looking for passionate community members with diverse skills and experiences to join our Board of Directors.

If you are interested in contributing to the strategic direction of youth development in the Clarenville area, please contact our Executive Director at theloftcyn@outlook.com for information on nomination procedures and current vacancies.