Young people
Southern’s young people are our future leaders.
We want our young people to make positive choices about their future and to have the right information to make good life decisions. Young people are most successful when they have a purpose. Education, training and work can offer that purpose.
If our young people get into trouble with the law, we want to help them get on the right track. For the small number of young people who are committing serious crimes, we’re taking action in an effort to stop them from becoming career criminals.
Youth employment
Many young people leave school with their next steps in mind: further education, training or employment. But some young people leave school and find it hard to get work and are not sure what to do next.
In 2009/2010 we’ll help Southern’s young people get jobs by:
- helping them get industry relevant skills
- finding workplaces where young people can work, learn and receive ongoing mentoring, support and guidance
- helping them make informed decisions about school, training and work
Youth Opportunities package
Times are hard for communities and their young people. The number of young people who don’t have a job is four times higher now than it was this time last year. The Government announced the Youth Opportunities package, working with employers and communities to find opportunities for 16 to 24-year-olds, to work, train or stay in education.
In 2009/2010 as part of the Youth Opportunities package we will:
- fund entry-level jobs for six months, to build experience and confidence
- make 3,000 places for young people to work on community projects
- create extra job training placements through industry partnerships
- expand the Limited Service Volunteer Scheme by an extra 1,250 places.
Getting young people to reach their potential
We want the young people in the Southern Region to know how many opportunities are out there for them and how they can grab those opportunities. Work’n It Out is a school to work transition service in the Southern Region.
We proactively contact school leavers from the 50 mainstream secondary schools. Those young people without a planned destination are invited to join Work’n It Out. An experienced Youth Co-ordinator works with each young person to assess their needs and to help them develop an individualised career plan.
Youth development projects
The young people of Clutha can access a military-style, physical training programme and career and employment information through CACTUS. This also links to the Making a Difference (MAD) support and leadership programme. Combined, these programmes help to develop healthy, motivated young people who can make informed career decisions.
We are helping the young people of Waitaki connect with their community by creating a community garden. This provides them with a physical and social environment that will help them to develop new skills and to build their self-esteem.
