Thursday 18 February 2010

Youth Council approves development fund

The Clutha District Youth Council will allocate up to $2,000 towards a youth development fund aimed to help young people in the district reach their goals.

Although the details are yet to be finalised, the intention is for the fund to be available for young people to apply to, and recipient(s) then selected by an interview panel consisting of several youth councillors, one councillor and one staff member.

Once the process and criteria for the fund has been finalised, it will be advertised throughout the district.

The decision to establish the fund was made at Monday night’s Inaugural Youth Council meeting for 2010.

This year’s Youth Council has seven new members – Danae Bradley (Blue Mountain College), Hayden Cockburn (The Catlins Area School), Terry Batt (Lawrence Area School), Brianna Watt (Lawrence Area School), Natasha Cameron (South Otago High School), Courtney Tekoronga (Tokomairiro High School), and Daniel Fenton (workplace representative).

They join Todd Murray (Blue Mountain College), Meghan Bennet (South Otago High School), Christiaan Faber (Tokomairiro High School) and Brendan Morrison (workplace representatives) who are all returning members. Cr Bruce Vollweiler and Cr Chris Hargest remain as Council’s representatives on the Youth Council.

Mayor Juno Hayes officially welcomed the Youth Council members who then made declarations in front of family and friends.

Workplace representative Brendan Morrison was then elected to the position of Chair, while Todd Murray was elected Deputy Chair. 

The Youth Council then got down to its first official business by allocating up to $2,000 of its discretionary $5,000 annual budget towards the Youth Council Development Fund.

Youth Councillors will be researching options for the remainder of the $5,000 budget, with ideas floated to date including running a youth event throughout the district and improved signage for the Tuapeka Mouth Punt.

The Youth Council is a Standing Committee of Council, enabling it to regularly report to and make recommendations to the full Council.

ENDS

Clutha District Youth Council Members 2010

Back row (l to r): Terry Batt (Lawrence Area School), Courtney Tekoronga (Tokomairiro High School), Bruce Vollweiler (Council representative), Daniel Fenton (workplace representative).

Middle row (l to r): Hayden Cockburn (The Catlins Area School), Brendan Morrison, Chairman (workplace representative), Todd Murray, Deputy Chairman (Blue Mountain College), Natasha Cameron (South Otago High School), Chris Hargest (Council representative).

Front row (l to r): Brianna Watt (Lawrence Area School), Danae Bradley (Blue Mountain College), Christiaan Faber (Tokomairiro High School), Meghan Bennet (South Otago High School).