Appeal for youth volunteers

Wanted: Adults who like young people and have time to work with them.

Youth Zone Taihape is looking for ‘‘caring, committed’’ volunteers to join with its Rangitikei District Councilfunded youth development workers in helping keep youngsters busy after school, at weekends, and especially during school holidays.

Activities range from knitting to eeling and just about everything in between, so would-be mentors who have a skill or skills would be welcome.

Council community planning manager Denise Servante said two youth workers--the other operates in Marton--had been hired after the need was seen arising out of school holiday programmes.

‘‘A fundamental need for core funding was identified by council,’’ she said.

The idea was to ensure greater co-ordination of what was on offer so that support fort young people could be more easily facilitated.

Elizabeth Mortland, of the Taihape Community Development Trust, said Youth Zone space had been found in the supper rooms of the town hall, but other possibilities such as the former scout hall were also in the frame.

She said as well as volunteers making themselves available at school holiday time, there was also a need for people to help out with after-school programmes and during evenings.

The two youth development workers had begun in February and since then volunteer numbers had varied according to the popularity of courses.

The amount of time depends on what people can offer, while volunteers can also choose the age of those they would like to work with.

All people who work with youth must be vetted by the Justice Department.

Contacts are Mortland (021 0261 6002) and Meretini BennettHuxtable, Healthy Families (06 3881156).