Youth projects get funding boost in the regions

Stratford District Council has been granted government funding for an innovative project that will benefit local young people.

Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett today announced the successful recipients of the Ministry of Youth Development’s Youth Development Partnership Fund.

“I’m delighted to congratulate the Stratford District Council whose innovative project, Focus on Youth – By Youth for Youth, is among those to be granted funding”.

“The great thing about these projects is that they get young people actively engaged and helping their peers. Having young people involved in the development and implementation of these projects is vital,” Ms Bennett says.

Fund recipients include councils from across the country, covering rural, metropolitan and provincial communities, with funding totalling more that $700,000. The Stratford District Council’s Focus on Youth programme will receive funding of $32,667.

Focus on Youth is aimed at researching the viability of a youth centre in Stratford, and improving access to education, training, and employment opportunities, as well as health services and information.

“The idea for the Focus on Youth project came about after a series of workshops with local young people. The success of our Youth Week events at Area201 highlighted the need for Stratford young people to have somewhere they identify with and feel safe,” says Stratford District Council’s Community Services Manager, Pauline James.

“Projects designed by adults for young people risk not hitting the mark. Why not go straight to the source? I believe it’ll help strength young people’s participation and engagement with their community,” says Ms Bennett.

The Youth Development Partnership Fund provides an opportunity for the Ministry of Youth Development, territorial authorities and young people to work together to provide new and innovative local youth development projects.