Youth

This year Council obtained funding for a Youth Co ordinator to be active throughout the District. This project is a joint venture with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the aim is to mentor youth through transition to work. The Youth Co-ordinator works very closely with employers, agencies and other organisations to achieve job outcomes for the youth. The programme started in March and will continue through to December. Council hopes this will be extended due to the success of the programme so far. There is a community van that can pick up and take the youth to their workplace, as Ruapehu does not have a public transport system, making job choices limited.

Taumarunui Youth Action Plan

Taumarunui is one of six communities in New Zealand that have been selected to take part in an innovative two-year pilot programme aimed at improving outcomes for young people aged 12 - 18 years.

Backed by the ministries of Social Development, Justice, Education and Health and the New Zealand Police, the Taumarunui Youth Action Plan, or 'The Trials' as the overall project is known, is looking at implementing a new approach to supporting young people to achieve positive life outcomes by working in partnership with families, whanau and the wider community.

Key outcomes of the trial

The outcomes the Social Sector Trials are seeking to achieve are:

Reducing truancy rates.
Reducing offending by young people.
Reducing levels of alcohol and other substance abuse in young people.
Increasing the number of young people in education, training and employment.

This project is extremely significant for our community - if you have any questions and would like to learn more or how you can get involved please contact Allison Ratcliffe on 07 9045251 or email Allison.ratcliffe001@msd.govt.nz

Local Governance

A Taumarunui Governance Group for the Social Sector Trial is in place. This Governance Board is the group that represents "the community ownership" of the Trials project and hence share the responsibility with the Trials Team of delivering ‘improved outcomes for Youth' in Taumarunui.

The Governance Group is made up of community leaders, senior managers, and decision makers from Taumarunui as well as representatives from Government services operating in the region.

There is also youth representation on the Governance Group. The Governance Group provides:

Strategic advice on the direction and priorities of the Trials project in Taumarunui.
Act as a mechanism for integrating perspectives, building consensus and encouraging innovation on the way forward to Improving Outcomes for Youth (12-18 years) in the Taumarunui area.
Provide advocacy for new services, service levels and funding needs.
Provide opportunities for the community to be involved with the Action Plan and to be informed of its progress throughout the trials.
Monitor and evaluate the Plan.
The Taumarunui Governance Group for Youth Issues meets monthly and is chaired by Inspector Steve Mastrovich.