The spirit of youth alive in North Shore City
Shore Youth Council representatives were on hand in New Plymouth last week to pick up two awards at the Youth in Local
Government Conference 2006. The group won the Community Projects award, and was highly commended in the Youth Councils
category.
The Community Projects category was for those who had developed innovative community programmes, projects or services
that benefit and involve young people. Shore Youth's project was Shore Youth Bank, a first in New Zealand.
North Shore City's deputy mayor, Dianne Hale, is delighted that Shore Youth Council has been recognised with these
awards.
"These awards are well deserved by a group that works hard for local young people. Shore Youth Bank is an excellent
initiative that has provided support for many events in our community," she says.
Shore Youth Bank is made up of a board of nine people aged between 16 and 24 who have previously been or are currently
members of Shore Youth Council.
Young people are encouraged to seek funding for ideas and projects that will benefit others in the area. They get
experience at filling in application forms, meeting conditions, being accountable, handling expenditure, and reporting
and evaluating afterwards.
Events funded through Shore Youth Bank this year include an inter-college rugby league game to raise awareness about
youth suicide, a concert for under 18s to promote and celebrate local bands, and the opening of a youth run art gallery
to exhibit work by young local artists.
The highly commended award was in recognition of a bus survey undertaken by Shore Youth Council and subsequently
presented to both North Shore City Council and Auckland Regional Transport Authority.
The Youth in Local Government Conference 2006 also gave Shore Youth co-chairpeople, Stephanie Rahardja and William
Cheyne, and Shore Youth Bank representative Kate Godfrey the chance to soak up and share ideas with conference-goers
from other areas.
For more details please visit http://www.shoreyouth.co.nz. (ends)