Local Government Youth Partnership Fund recipients announced

  • Nikki Kaye
Youth

Fifteen councils up and down New Zealand will share $280,000 of funding under the 2017 Local Government Youth Partnership Fund, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This fund is about encouraging and supporting city, district and regional councils to partner with the Government, businesses and philanthropic and iwi partners to grow youth development opportunities,” says Ms Kaye.

“Funding of between $10,000 and $45,000 will be provided to support a range of projects in 2017 and 2018, ranging from sport and outdoor education programmes, to a region-wide town beautification project led by young people.”

The fifteen councils receiving funding are:

  • Far North District Council - $24k to support members of the Far North Youth Council to receive training in peer mentoring and put their skills into practice through a series of youth engagement events
  • Auckland Council - $45k to support (i) the delivery in South Auckland of Makertrail, a programme aimed at exciting a passion for STEM subjects, and (ii) the Riverside Youth Zone in East Auckland/Tamaki, involving youth leaders delivering a range of programmes in response to community interest and need
  • Hamilton City Council - $10k towards Seed Waikato, monthly events that connect young people to learn from inspirational speakers
  • Taupo District Council - $30k towards Rangatahi Collective Hub, a volunteering programme that upskills young people to provide children’s after-school and holiday activities
  • Waikato Regional Council - $20k to support workshops on science and social innovation, aimed at identifying solutions for a healthy Tokoroa and surrounding districts
  • Ruapehu District Council - $13k approx to support projects carried out by Ruapehu Youth Council ambassadors, including tree planting, a community sports day and beautification projects in the towns of Taumaranui, Raetihi and Ohakune
  • Horowhenua District Council - $16k towards Tuwhitia Te Hopo (“Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway”) aimed at building leadership and resilience and providing opportunities to volunteer as mentors
  • Masterton District Council - $23k  towards CoLab, a programme that catalyses local youth to develop a social enterprise project
  • Upper Hutt City Council - $11k approx to provide leadership opportunities for young people, including those not in school or attending alternative education
  • Nelson City Council - $20k towards Tō Tātou Hapori (“Our Community”) a partnership of community organisations fostering youth participation in their local neighbourhoods through volunteering and leadership opportunities
  • Marlborough District Council - $9k approx to mentor members of the Marlborough Youth Trust Advisory Group, to increase their capacity to be confident, connected and contributing members of their community
  • Westland District Council - $20k towards CACTUS Westland (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit Support) to deliver an intensive fitness and skills programme, involving activities including climbing, caving, rafting and mountain biking
  • Hurunui District Council - $10k approx to support local young people to help design and implement a consultation process to input into the development of a youth strategy/action plan
  • Environment Canterbury Regional Council - $20k to support a partnership with Youth Voice Canterbury to deliver leadership training and mentoring, and establish a regional youth panel connected to the Council and potentially the Mayoral Forum
  • Queenstown Lakes District Council - $6k approx to support young people to write and present a submission to the Wakatipu Basin Annual Plan, and plan, promote and run various activities in Upper Clutha.

“The Local Government Youth Partnership Fund recognises that councils have far-reaching local networks with young people, local businesses, iwi and community partners,” says Ms Kaye.

“We want to help young people access and benefit from these connections to grow their capabilities and resilience, and contribute to their communities at the same time.

“The fund is overseen by the Partnership Fund Board, set up in 2016 as part of a new direction for youth development in New Zealand.

“A focus of this new direction is working more collaboratively to deliver and grow youth development opportunities such as mentoring, volunteering and leadership opportunities.

“It’s great to be able to support councils to reach out to local youth and build opportunities for them to become more involved, and develop their own potential at the same time.

“I expect that together, we will support the creation of more than 2,500 new youth development opportunities through these projects.”

More information about the Local Government Youth Partnership Fund and the projects that will be supported in 2017/18 is available here.