27 January 2004

N E W S R E L E A S E

New Cadet Scheme a ‘Huge Success’ – Mayor

This Thursday (JAN 29) the first intake of cadets at the New Plymouth District Council will graduate from the programme.

Last January, 14 long-term young unemployed people joined the council as cadets to learn basic employment skills, and to receive on-the-job training in various areas of the council for a year.

Upon their graduation on Thursday, seven of the cadets will become employees at the council. Two have enrolled in university, three are going into the New Zealand Navy, and one is being guided through job interviews with other organisations.

One student left the cadetship scheme in November for a job in Perth.

“This scheme is clearly a huge success: 14 young people who had been long term unemployed, are about to go into employment or training and make a real contribution,” says Mayor Pete.

“Our young people are our future. A lot of our young people are excelling on their own, but we can’t forget those who need that helping hand to achieve their potential.

“If every employer in the district brought in a similar cadetship scheme – whether on their own or by clubbing together with similar businesses – our youth unemployment rate would be practically wiped out overnight.

“I’m very proud with what our first intake of cadets has achieved,” says the Mayor. “They’ve worked extremely hard and they thoroughly deserve the opportunities that are now open to them.

“Each and every one of these young people are great! They’re to be applauded – as too are the coordinator coach of the cadetship scheme, Caroline Winstanley, and all the team here at the council, and the family and friends of our cadets who have shown total commitment to the future of these superb individuals.”

The council’s three-year cadetship scheme, which will ultimately see 42 young people taking part, is run in conjunction with Work and Income New Zealand, Te Puni Kokiri, Ngati Tama Development Trust, Tertiary Education Commission and Community Employment Group.

The graduation ceremony will take place in the council chamber this Thursday at 2pm. The next intake of cadets will arrive at the council on February 2.

The cadetship scheme is part of a comprehensive employment programme at the council, which includes three three-year apprenticeships at Parkscape, and scholarships for university or polytech students who are studying areas relevant to local government.

“This programme is part of this council’s commitment to the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs, which aims to have everyone under the age of 25 in employment or training. I’m so proud that this council is the first in New Zealand to make that goal part of our Strategic Plan,” says the Mayor.

-ends-

© Scoop Media