Huge progress on City Youth Workers

Huge progress on City Youth Workers

The Governance Group for a new Upper Hutt initiative which will see youth workers in the city is making great progress.

The Governance Group which includes Child Youth and Family, Community Action on Youth and Drugs, Experience Upper Hutt, Local MP Chris Hipkins, Orongomai Marae, Upper Hutt City Council and Upper Hutt Police will see up to 5 youth workers in the city to focus on areas such as the CBD, Railway Station and Maidstone Max.

The purpose of the youth workers is to act as group who can connect with the cities youth, including 'at risk' youth, engage with them and assist them. The Upper Hutt City Council 2008 Youth Survey found that the biggest knowledge gap for youth was where to find help for addictions, mental health issues and physical violence. The Youth Workers will provide information on services they can go to for help.

The Youth Workers are not security staff but will certainly be contributing to increasing safety in the city by reducing the chances of graffiti, drug and alcohol misuse and youth related violence.

"The staff will be visible and recognisable to the youth and community" said Nadia Freeman from CAYAD.

The project has strong support from Mayor Wayne Guppy. He said "We already have a relatively safe city - this will make it even safer and help our young people to make a real change in their lives"…….

Youth Workers will be appointed in early 2010. If you are interested, want more information or believe you could assist the project, please contact Nadia Freeman (details are below).

ENDS

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