Funding boost for innovative council youth project

Rodney District Council has won government funding for an innovative project that will benefit local young people.

Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the successful recipients of the Ministry of Youth Development's Youth Development Partnership Fund.

“I’m delighted to congratulate the Rodney District Council whose innovative project, Project 300, is among those to be awarded funding. I am excited that the Ministry is able to support this initiative, which will involve, challenge and encourage local young people,” Minister Mahuta said.

Fund recipients include councils stretching from the far north to the heart of the south, covering rural, metropolitan and provincial communities, with funding totalling more than $1.3million. Project 300 will receive funding of $64,475.

Project 300 is a direct response to 2005 Ministry of Education figures which showed that 296 students aged between 15 and 19 left Rodney’s Colleges with less than NCEA 1 qualification, this accounts for almost 40% of Rodney college leavers and is the third highest percentage of students leaving college with no formal qualification in the Auckland region. This situation presents not only serious issues for the individuals concerned but also for the wider community.

Project 300 will work closely with young people to identify the post education pathways taken by young people who have no formal qualification and to develop initiatives to address identified barriers to development.

Paul Green, Rodney District Council’s Safer Community Coordinator said the funding was a fantastic opportunity for Council to facilitate an important body of research.

“This research will provide us with the foundation to develop specific interventions that will address barriers to employment, training and education being faced by young people in Rodney. I am particularly encouraged to see that young people themselves will have such an important role to play in this project. The funding provided by the Ministry of Youth Development is an excellent example of local and central government recognising the needs of local communities and providing creative solutions to address those needs,” he said.

Minister Mahuta said the Fund's theme of education, training and employment aligned with the priorities set by the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs. "The selected projects offer a huge range of opportunities for young people through the provision of activities which support enterprise, learning, leadership, participation, and development of resources for young people.”

"The fund reflects the fact that councils not only need to develop projects which address the needs of young people in their communities, but that they also need to be innovative and inclusive in their approach if they are to truly engage with young people and keep them involved and enthusiastic.

A key objective of the Youth Development Partnership Fund is to increase achievement of positive social, economic and wellbeing outcomes for young people by providing opportunities to develop valuable work, life and learning skills.

ENDS

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