Warning: This story includes references to suicide and mental health.
After great success at last year’s event, Ink for Impact is back and bigger than before.
Family-run Tauranga tattoo studio UnderTongue Tattoo is hosting the fundraiser for Youth Central on Sunday, April 19 at the Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust’s base on 13th Ave.
The event will run from 10am until 5pm.
Studio co-owner Alysia Greaney said supporting Youth Central was a combination of two ideas she and co-owner Cheyne Tweeddale were passionate about: mental health and focusing on young people.
Youth Central, the home of Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust, was described as the largest dedicated youth development and community facility in New Zealand when it opened in 2022.
“It’s a facility that helps young people feel supported, confident, and provides opportunities, support, community programmes, career pathways and educational pathways,” Greaney said.
It includes a large gym, running track, boxing ring, commercial kitchen and dining area, presentation space, whānau area, meeting rooms, barber facilities, a coffee bar and more.
All proceeds from the Ink for Impact event would go directly to Youth Central.
At the first Ink for Impact last year, Greaney and Tweeddale fundraised for mental health charity Spark That Chat. About 350 people attended and $4000 was raised.
This year, Greaney had set her sights on reaching $5000.
UnderTongue Tattoo co-owner, artist and Alysia Greaney’s partner Cheyne Tweeddale.
The fundraiser’s set-up would be similar, with DJs, barbers, face painting and coffee trucks.
There would be seven tattoo artists – four more than last year.
The artists were Mayhem Ink, Paul Collier at Bohemian Tattoo, Tattooz by Muzza and Cheyne Tweeddale at UnderTongue Tattoo.
Flash designs would be available for $100 or $150.
Two barbers, including Brookfield’s Barber Spence, would offer cuts costing $20 for adults and $15 for kids.
Two face painters would also be accepting donations for the fundraiser.
All of the money raised from tattoos, barbers, and face painting would go to Youth Central, with everyone donating their time.
Local businesses had also donated to a raffle prize.
This included vouchers for UnderTongue Tattoo, the Mount Tavern, Crown and Badger and Fit Fam supplements, as well as gift packs and vouchers from barbers, and gift baskets from New World Gate Pā.
Bohemian Tattoo was sponsoring the artists’ tattoo equipment.
UnderTongue Tattoo co-owner Alysia Greaney with a photo of her brother Dylan Greaney, who she lost to suicide when he was 19 on December 1, 2019.
Greaney said clients open up when being tattooed.
“They’re sitting one-on-one with Cheyne for hours, so conversations do start.”
Most clients had multiple sessions, so personal relationships developed.
Greaney said seeing people line up before last year’s event moved her.
“It showed what we were doing was worth it.”
Greaney said she lost her brother to suicide in 2019, and she suffered from mental health challenges.
“I’m really passionate about helping because everyone suffers from some form of mental health challenge. It’s important to bring awareness and support to that.”
Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust head coach and head facilitator Henry Fa’afili said about 260 tamariki (children) come through Youth Central each week.
He said chairman Craig Nees had a vision for a set-up for kids who need a bit of direction and purpose in life.
“It’s a safe space for kids to come and build confidence and help them towards pathways.”
The money raised by the event would fund the trust’s resources and equipment.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
• What’s Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
• Aoake te Rā – Free, brief therapeutic support service for those bereaved by suicide. Call 0800 000 053
• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737. If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.