Youth initiatives at SDC

Southland District Council will be focusing on some new youth initiatives after receiving funding from the Ministry of Youth Development.

Council senior policy analyst Wayne Heerdegen said a youth forum will be held in June/July in Invercargill by the Southland, Gore and Invercargill Youth Councils.

"We have received $20,000 from the Ministry of Youth Development towards this project, which gives us the ability to put together something relevant to our youth in the south.

"The forum will identify, clarify and report to Southland councils the issues of importance for young people in Southland, and will assist with the development of leadership skills for them."

Specific issues or projects identified during the forum will then be developed further by a focus group under the supervision of the Our Way Southland Regional Co-ordinator.

"This is an opportunity for youth to influence outcomes and play a part in future development. We will be looking at developing what are and what should be youth priorities," Mr Heerdegen said.

Southland District Council has also received funding of $2000 from the Ministry to send three youth council representatives to the Youth in Local Government conference in Porirua later this year and a futher $500 to assist with Youth Week in May.

"It is important to develop youth leadership and this will all help with that and also with youth being involved in and understanding local government."