Youthworks Giving young people a start in employment

VIVIAN HUTCHINSON Key Note Speaker at Employment Forum

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE Te Puni Kokiri South Taranaki District Council Skill NZ Career Services Community Employment Group New Plymouth District Council Stratford District Council U Turn WITT Venture Taranaki Trust Te Taura Tangata Trust Federated Farmers Ignite Work and Income Community Computer Access Workbridge Ag Start Chamber of Commerce Taranaki Learning Centre Jobseekers Info Centre Central Taranaki Employment Trust

Taranaki unemployment rate was 9.8% at time Youthworks was born and 1/4 of those were young people under 25 years of age.

Many of our not for profit community groups were under stress. Volunteers are getting fewer and those that are available tend to be getting more elderly

Department of Work and Income Skill New Zealand Careers Service Rapuara Youthworks

Organisations may qualify to receive a Taskforce Green subsidy if the project: benefits the community or environment is outside the scope of normal work lasts around six months provides work of 30 hours a week or more for one or more applicants does not displace those already working for the organisation TASK FORCE GREEN A Work and Income subsidy supporting short-term community or environmental projects. Two levels of subsidy are available: Up to $214 per week (including GST) on a pro rata basis for workers Up to $325 per week (including GST) for those supervising groups of four or more other Taskforce Green workers

TARANAKI EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT FOUNDATION Roles Were To: Seek Funding Provide assistance and training in employment matters Administrative help

BENEFITS OF YOUTH WORKS Young people having paid work young workers have gained valuable work experience advice and mentoring and will have improved their chances of finding work. The employing not for profit community group will have had the value of having a paid worker The community as a whole would benefit

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WERE Most of the resources required for the scheme were already in place. What was missing was the co- operation, collaboration and co-ordination of all those agencies and departments that have the resources and ability to influence the future of young people. The Trust provides the means to link those agencies and departments together. The scheme benefits the whole of New Plymouth as every “not for profit organisation” is eligible to employ a young person under the scheme The scheme gained the support of the District’s Mayor, the Department of Work and Income, Careers Service and Skill NZ, all of whom are prepared to fund their participation

The scheme is complimentary to Government initiatives such as the Modern Apprenticeships Scheme. The scheme is innovative and a first for New Zealand It will retain young people in Taranaki as the region is currently losing its young and has an aging population

New Plymouth District Council $20,000

Mayors Letter Regional Commissioner designated specific work broker to the scheme Community Group to contact work broker Workers sent for interview Trust informed Trust assists with training group on how to be a good employer Subsidy started Automatic payment of community contribution arranged HOW IT WORKS

Only 6 workers appointed in 4 months

The Trust investigate the employment of a paid co- ordinator who will: visit community groups to explain the scheme assist groups in finding work for young people recruit young people to the scheme match the young person to the work available OR assist young people to create their own work in the public good

Gloria Campbell Regional Commissioner, Work and Income.

The Co-ordinator Seeks out suitable positions for young workers Provides regular post employment support for the young worker and the community group that employed them At the end of the Youthwork contract period, provides assistance to the young person in order to staircase the worker into a “cadetship” with an employer in the private sector. This would then provides the young person with full time permanent employment. If the young person is unsure of their future, refers them for free careers advice from Career Service. If further training is required the Co-ordinator will assist with finding a suitable Skill NZ course.

TARANAKI EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT FOUNDATION continue to: Provide initial assistance to community groups to meet their employer obligations Provide the cash incentive

Youthworks Lisa, Teacher Aide, Huirangi School

Youthworks -Melissa Waitara Project - Administration/Mentoring Working towards National Certificate in Youthwork

Youthworks is now only part of the story. We also have in place follow up programmes, specifically these are:- First Jobs Programme A similar programme to Youthworks but it places young people with private sector employers. Cadetship Scheme This is a joint venture with the New Plymouth District Council that will give 20 young people, 50% of whom are Maori, an opportunity for paid work and training in the Council.