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Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has approved funding for 131 community organisations through the Community Response Fund.

More than $7.5 million has been allocated in this fifth round of the CRF.

“We created this fund to help organisations keep delivering services to families through tough financial times,” said Minister Bennett.

“Since June last year, we’ve put $41 million into 779 community organisations and it’s helped keep many afloat,” says Ms Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has launched a new resource to help support teen fathers.

The booklet Supporting Teen Fathers: A resource for service providers will be used by organisations working directly with teen fathers.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says latest figures show online job vacancies increased by 2.6% over the last three months.

“It's good to see jobs vacancies are still on the rise as winter ends and the holiday season begins,” says Ms Bennett.

Skilled job vacancies also rose by 2.7% during the three months to November.

Hospitality and tourism (up 7.5%), and IT (up 7.3%) were the best industry performers.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today celebrated with 14 young people from foster care who won William Wallace Awards.

William Wallace scholarships are an annual award for children in care, sparked by a bequest to Child, Youth and Family from a former foster child.

“I'm always impressed with young people who achieve their goals with absolute determination,” says Ms Bennett.

There are 2,250 fewer New Zealanders on Unemployment Benefits since November, but the overall number on benefits has risen by 1.2%

As usual with universities finishing for summer, an influx of students (5,802) going onto benefits pushed overall benefit numbers up.

“But we are still seeing jobseekers find work, in fact more than 8,000 people went off benefits and into work last month,” says Ms Bennett.

Of the total 8,384 people who cancelled their benefits because they found jobs, 5,418 had been on an Unemployment Benefit.

Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett is challenging councils to reach out to local young people through the Youth Development Partnership Fund.

"I also want to encourage young people to step out of their shells, look beyond  Facebook and TV and take part in their communities," says Ms Bennett.

The Youth Development Partnership Fund finances councils to develop education, training and employment projects with input from local youth.

Takapuna Grammar student and Youth MP Amelia MacDonald has won a video competition run by the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust, Acting Youth Affairs Minister Nathan Guy has announc

From today, the National Government's Fresh Start package provides a new approach for serious youth offenders and at-risk young people.

The National-led Government's tax reform package will see beneficiaries compensated tomorrow for the rise in GST.

Future Focus changes in effect today underline National's commitment to rebalancing incentives and obligations in the welfare system.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced a special $7.5 million Community Response Fund for social service providers in Canterbury.

Minister for Social Development, Paula Bennett has pledged $2.5 Million for trauma counselling to support Canterbury's shaken and quake weary residents.

The number of people on benefits rose 0.7% in August but despite this, thousands of beneficiaries continued to find jobs says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says more than two thousand people have called the 0800 779997 Government helpline so far.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today released a report in Masterton, which provides a unique snapshot of local social services.

Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett has announced the appointment of two new part-time Families Commissioners to replace outgoing Commissioners.

It is an honour and a privilege to speak to leaders of such influence.

I stand here knowing I'm surrounded by the combined wisdom of many years.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett delivered a speech to iwi leaders this week, calling for a co-operative effort to address child abuse.

Minister of Youth Affairs Paula Bennett is encouraging young people to celebrate International Youth Day by having their say on decisions that affect them.

Today I'm announcing an important initiative that endeavours to help some very important New Zealanders.

They are the children in care, who don't have a permanent home to go to.

The total number of job vacancies advertised online continues to rise, up 39.6% since July 2009 and by 7.6% over the last three months.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced an employment assistance package for Pacific job seekers, including a million dollars for targeted work programmes.

The total number of jobs advertised online continues to rise, up by 36.9 percent since June last year and by 9.4 percent over the last three months.

Employment & Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett welcomes the extension of the 90-day trial period, saying it will give more young people work opportunities.