Young people wait for training

BY CHARLES ANDERSON

Nelson youth workers are worried young people in the region who have left school and are being forced to wait increasing periods of time to get back into training will fall back off the rails again and into trouble.

The Tertiary Education Commission has indicated there will be a reduction in funding for places in the Nelson region designed to help learners with low qualifications and a greater risk of long-term unemployment take up further education.

The final figures for the region have not yet been finalised, but nationally there will be a reduction of $7.6 million.

Nelson Tasman Connections manager Nicola Robb said the cut would affect young people who most needed funds. "Those with the highest needs are finding it harder again. Whereas before they could be taken on to a training course and supported, now they are being put on to waiting lists."

Nelson Tasman Connections currently provides links to service providers for 2508 young people in the region between the ages of 15 and 19 who have left school. Its latest statistics show that of these young people, the number in employment has dropped from 823 in June to 760 last month.

Recent Ministry of Social Development figures show that 30 per cent of unemployed people in Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast are aged under 24.

The number of those who are in "no formal activity" on the Connections database has almost tripled from 37 in March to 108 in October, while the number who were linked to a service provider has fallen from 147 to 116.

New Hub youth centre manager Ron Kjestrup said many young people in this last category were keen to be engaged in some sort of further education.

"Our job has been to get them to a certain point in wanting to get back into education but it is really easy for them to fall off the rails again. You can imagine exactly what happens when you get guys who should be out and about doing things, sitting around getting bored. There are mental health issues and drug use to worry about."

Manager for alternative education provider Youth Nelson, Maree Shalders, said she was having to hold students back for up to two years.

"They are busting to get out and start education, but there is nowhere for them to move on to. It is a constant challenge to keep them all engaged with the limited resources we have got," Ms Shalders said.

Amanda Drogemuller of the Abel Tasman Education Trust said they were unable to take on new students because of the cut backs in funding.

She said there were not many jobs available for those who did not have skills or experience.

"Some of them aren't quite ready to make that commitment and make a good go of it. They are working with complex issues that are going on, but with no youth training available and limited jobs, what are the options?"

Nelson Youth Transitions worker Suzanne O'Neill said it was a scary combination when jobs and education spaces dried up at the same time. "They tend to lose that motivation, even the ones who are highly motivated. If they spend months doing everything they can and they can't do courses, can't do work, they get a bit down."

Ms O'Neill said some young people got so many knock-backs they felt like giving up. "And there will always be some who will get into some sort of trouble."

She said two government initiatives had taken the burden off service providers and educators.

Job Ops and Community Max give businesses and community groups subsidies to allow young people access to work experience.

Ms O'Neill said although the initiatives were being well received in the region, demand outweighed supply and she hoped more businesses and community groups would get on board.

- © Fairfax NZ News