Thames-Coromandel District Council's projects involving young people were in the spotlight during a visit from a Ministry of Youth Development official recently.

Since the adoption of the youth strategy in 2013, several projects have been able to get off the ground with the help of ministry funding and support from council's partners.

Selfie time with, from left: Ministry of Youth Development youth participation advisor Rob Griffiths, Thames Youth centre coordinator Kane Lowrie, and Thames-Coromandel District Council staff Rebekah Duffin, Marlene Perry and councillor Diane Conners. Photo: TCDC

The strategy's aim is to bring agencies together to share information, identify and eliminate gaps in service provision for young people, plus identify and create opportunities for youth in the district.

The Value 4 Youth project aims at filling a gap in the volunteer sector and focusses on making it easier for young people to find a volunteer opportunities.

It also helps organisations develop a 'best practice' for recruiting and retaining volunteers and includes how to write a job description and fitting a volunteer to a job.

'Another gap we are addressing is youth employment,” says council. 'An exciting initiative for employers and young people is coming to the Peninsula to address local skills shortages and youth unemployment.

'Smart Waikato Trust's Futureforce Action Network has already been launched with great success in Hamilton and Matamata and is on its way here.

'Thames-Coromandel District Council and Smart Environmental are helping bring the FAN event, to be held at Thames Toyota on April 29, to the district.”

Another project is the Coromandel Peninsula Youth Awards, which are designed to celebrate the achievements of young people in the district.

They are facilitated by the Thames Youth Forum with support from council, the Coromandel Youth Collective, Thames Youth Club, Population Health, and Ministry of Youth Development.

Coromandel locals can now nominate any outstanding young person they think are worthy of an award, with nominations closing on April 17.

'The event for the nominees will be held during Youth Week in May,” adds council. 'To find out more on how to nominate, you can nominate yourself, see our Coromandel Peninsula Youth Awards page on our website.”

For more information about the Youth Strategy or to nominate an outstanding young person for the Coromandel Peninsula Youth Awards click here.