Child, Youth and Family Media Release
31 October 2006

Young people turning their lives around

Today Child, Youth and Family marked Foster Care Awareness Week by presenting nine winners with the inaugural William Wallace Awards, in Wellington.

"The award recipients are all young people who are or were in the care or custody of Child, Youth and Family or a non-government agency. Each has already overcome many challenges in their lives, supported by foster carers who have provided them with much needed security and support" said Ray Smith, Deputy Chief Executive, Child, Youth and Family.

"These awards will help support them to take the next steps in their education and help them build a secure future for themselves. Several of the recipients will be using the awards to support their university or vocational study. Others plan to undertake leadership courses or Outward Bound."

"Each of the recipients was been nominated by their caregiver, social worker or a member of their community. The standard of nominees was so high that we have awarded nine awards, rather than the planned eight," said Ray Smith.

"The awards have been established using a bequest from William Richard Wallace. Little is known about Mr Wallace but thanks to his generosity each year we will grant four awards to young people totalling $10,000," concluded Ray Smith.

"The awards are also an opportunity for us to acknowledge the support caregivers have given these young people. They are representative of the amazing work caregivers do looking after some of the country's most vulnerable children."

ENDS

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