CHB Youth Network will fix ‘one’ thing at a time

To be released immediately 28 July 2009

Forty-five people from a range of government and Central Hawke’s Bay organisations attended the first CHB Youth 'Network' meeting last week in Waipawa.

Why? Youth Coordinator, Shelley Burne-Field said, “To put faces to names. To connect. To identify gaps. And to fix ONE thing at a time. We are forming a Youth Council soon and will be talking to young people about what their priorities are, but one immediate concern that has come out of the community is how we can improve Alternative Education.”

Mayor Trish Giddens said, “Alternative Education is being looked at both locally as well as a review by the Government. Central Hawke’s Bay has only six places for alternative education - i.e. kids who don't fit into schools, are excluded or expelled. We’re working with the CHB College to help them manage it, and also see where kids fit in when school is no longer an option for them.”

Council is working with CHB College and the CHB Youth Network to make a submission to Government through the Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs.

Examples of agencies who have joined the network hosted by CHB District Council include Police, Child Youth & Family, Dept Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, Colleges, Private Training groups, HB DHB, Youth Workers, Drug & Alcohol organisations, Counsellors, Social Workers, Cadets, Literacy and Numeracy, early childhood centres, Heartlands, and Strengthening families.

ENDS

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