School queries changes to ‘vital’ youth support
money. ‘‘So many of the things that make Nelson a great place to live are funded through the money we pay as ratepayers.
‘‘Everyone who goes for a walk in one of our public parks benefits from the work done to make them a welcoming and relaxing place to visit,’’ Skinner said.
‘‘That is why thefts and vandalism like this are detrimental to all Nelsonians.’’
The council has reported each of the incidents to police and asked that anyone with relevant information call the police non-emergency contact number on 105 to make a report.
Changes to a ‘‘vitally important’’ service for young people not in education, employment or training, have left a school in Nelson ‘‘waiting with interest’’ for further information.
Community College Nelson has lost its contract with the Ministry of Social Development to provide Youth Service, which helps school leavers and young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) engage in education, work and training.
The ministry said a ‘‘revised service approach’’ was being brought in, after a review.
‘‘We’re transitioning to a more intensive wrap-around support service that’s tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable youth across New Zealand,’’ the ministry’s general manager of services and contract management, Kelvin Moffatt, said.
The contract with Community College for Youth Services in Nelson would end in March. Presbyterian Support was due to provide the revised service in Nelson, from April 1.
Nayland College deputy principal Hannah Cameron said the high school referred to Youth Service a ‘‘large number’’ of students who wanted to leave school before 18 but had no ‘‘clear plan’’.
‘‘Community College would connect with any student who was considering, or about to leave school between the ages of 16 and 18,’’ she said.
Cameron was eager to learn which students the revised service would accept.
‘‘There is a risk that some students could miss out on guidance at a vital transitional period of their life,’’ she said.
‘‘We are waiting with interest to see what level of support is offered to students.’’
The chief executive officer of Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, Barry Helem, said the service would still accept referrals from schools for NEET clients.
‘‘The only changes will be that students will need to meet a definition of ‘high risk’ as established by MSD,’’ Helem said.
‘‘We have yet to receive a copy of the new contract that will confirm specific detail on this, but once received, our Nelson staff will be visiting local schools before 1 April 2020 to work with them around students who may qualify.’’
Waimea College principal Scott Haines called Youth Service a ‘‘vitally important resource’’ for young people. ‘‘We look forward to continued-specialist access to this provision,’’ he said.