South Island Teens to benefit from charity partnership

14 July 2014

South Island Teens to benefit from charity and retail partnership

July 14 will mark the start of a partnership between Warehouse Stationery Stores in the southern region and the youth charity, Blue Light. Stores in Christchurch, Rangiora, Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, Invercargill and Oamaru are all involved and will hold in-store fundraising initiatives to support the charities work with young people in this region.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to raise awareness and funds through the network of Warehouse Stationery Stores in the Southern Region. It’s thanks to this support that Blue Light is able to help young people in this area who require ‘a little direction in life. Funds raised through this partnership will provide the opportunity for local youth to attend a Blue Light life skills program, where they will learn practical skills to improve and manage their lives moving forward” said Brendon Crompton, Organisational Development Manager, Blue Light.

“Warehouse Stationery stores within our region are passionate about our communities and are committed to supporting education and families with school children’. We are proud to partner with the work that Blue Light is doing in this area to empower young people and at risk youth”, said Linda Glasgow, Regional Community Champion, Christchurch Warehouse Stationery.

The public are encouraged to add one dollar at checkouts between 14 July and 3 August to support Blue Light.

Blue Light is a youth charity which works in partnership with the New Zealand police and the community and aims to empower young people to reduce the incidence of them becoming a victim or offender of crime.

Blue Light Life Skills programs take young people away from the distractions of everyday life and through activity based education teach them ways to improve and manage their lives. The program centres on experiential learning and focuses on leadership training, practical life skills and self-confidence. The program is run by Blue Light in partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force. For more information visit http://www.bluelight.co.nz/national-events.html

As well as Life Skills courses Blue Light runs a whole host of programs including ‘TradeZone Kids Gone Fishing’ with its patron Graeme Sinclair, Bryan & Bobby, Rainbows End Fun Days, PCT Fear Factor, Driver Licencing Programs, Youth Mentoring, publishes a series of handbooks for Teenagers and their parents along with local activities such as drug and alcohol education, holiday programs, after school care, camps for young victims of sexual assault, youth justice programs, truancy and anti-graffiti programs, sports & family fun days and a whole variety of events all aimed to build positive relationships between young people, the police, parents and the community.

Blue Light delivers its programs thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses through fundraising and sponsorship.

To find out more about Blue Light and its programs visit www.bluelight.co.nz

New Zealand Blue Light
New Zealand Blue Light is a registered charity and community policing youth program that for the past 30 years has run programs and activities for youth throughout New Zealand free from drugs, alcohol and violence.

Blue Light aims to reduce youth crime, build community partnerships, build young people’s self-esteem, enhance community safety as well as build positive youth and police partnerships. Blue Light New Zealand is a nationwide incorporated society which has a national executive committee and operates 70 branches nationwide. Each branch is responsible for sourcing their own funding to facilitate and provide their own youth community programs.

Blue light is supported by police officers, who carry out Blue Light activities over and above their normal police duties along with civilian volunteers. Those involved with Blue Light are passionate about youth and in particularly providing positive experiences for those who may otherwise not have an opportunity.

Although Blue Light is supported by police, the two operate totally independently and Blue Light does not receive any funding from police. Blue Light is thankful for the support of its corporate sponsor AA Insurance.

See www.bluelight.co.nz or visit www.facebook.com/nzbluelight

Blue Light originally began in Australia as a community policing initiative and remains very strong in all of the Australian States and is now active in the Solomon Islands, East Timor, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Scotland.

ENDS

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