Budget fact sheets 2008 - community services funding for at-risk young people

The Government is investing $9.471 million over the next four years for Ministry of Youth Development services for vulnerable and at-risk young people.

This will be progressively introduced with $1.044 million available in 2008/09, increasing to $3.726 million in 2011/12.

The funding is part of the Government’s commitment to investing $446 million over the next four years in Pathway to Partnership, a multi-year plan aimed at strengthening community-based family, child and youth focused services.

The Ministry of Youth Development provides funding for community-based providers to work with young people who need extra support. The programmes funded include the New Zealand Conservation Corps, Youth Service Corps, Specialist Youth Services Corps for Young Offenders, youth work and mentoring services.

The Ministry of Youth Development will now fund a broader range of services for vulnerable and at-risk young people from diverse backgrounds and communities.

The increased funding will also enable the Ministry of Youth Development to strengthen its commitment to building capability in the youth development sector.

These services will contribute to meeting the goals of the Government’s Schools Plus work programme of reducing the barriers to young people succeeding in education, training and the transition into work and ensuring that all young people under 18 are connected to structured learning.

---