Media release
3 July 2013
Aucklanders speak up on children and young people

Auckland Council has so far received more than 400 actions from Auckland businesses, organisations and individuals to help improve the prospects of Auckland’s children and young people.

The actions come during a month-long engagement period on the draft Children and Young People’s Strategic Action Plan, outlined at www.putmefirst.co.nz. The engagement period closes on Friday 12 July.

“I am overwhelmed by the response we’ve had so far. The actions we’ve received really show that we can come together and make real change in the lives of Auckland’s children and young people,” says Principal Strategy Analyst, Catherine Fitzsimons.

The draft plan was developed in conjunction with the Youth Advisory Panel using the voices of more than 5000 Aucklanders aged under 25 years old, which were gathered during the development of the 30-year Auckland Plan. It is a key step toward creating positive change and improving the prospects of children and young people (aged 0-25) in Auckland.

People aged under 25 years old make up 40 per cent of Auckland’s population; that’s more people than the population of the Wellington region.

Preliminary results show that 88 per cent of people believe that council’s idea to bring together businesses and community members to promote and provide healthy food in schools and communities is an important priority to improve the prospects of children and young people.

Eighty-eight per cent also think that getting children and young people to design playgrounds and play spaces for their local area is a priority.

Some of the actions received on www.putmefirst.co.nz include:

“We have created an exciting new anti-bullying programme. We are hoping to develop a youth advisory forum to support the development of this work because we recognise that it is important for young people to have a say on how this program develops.” Raeburn House

“Education is important and a good start in life is even more important. Kaipatiki Community Development Trust is currently trialling a mobile early childhood education play in the front yard programme in the Beach Haven area.” Kaipatiki Community Development Trust

“Here at Youthline in Auckland, we are driving youth engagement and work closely with our Youth Advisory Groups, Youth Health Council Members and Youth Service Network to allow the youth in our community to share their voice!” Youthline

“Our programmes encourage young people to participate in sport and recreation and we have a scholarship to fund one student a year into the arts.” Foundation for Youth Development

The actions registered on the site will be used to develop the final plan, which will be completed later this year.

ENDS

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