youth logo

 

A youth involvement initiative is being developed by the Far North District Council to more fully recognise the needs and aspirations of young people in the community.

The programme is designed to ensure that youth have a voice in forward planning and that their views are reflected in the Long Term Council Community Plan and other Council strategies.

It is also expected to highlight areas of concern to the youth community and provide a forum to address these concerns.

“The intention is to get young people, community groups and the council talking and listening to each other,” Community Development Officer Tania McInnes said today.

“A series of youth surveys and workshops will be run over the next few months to acknowledge the importance and value of young people. These will be run in conjunction with Sport Northland, the Ministry of Social Development and the Health Promoting Schools programme youth logo.

“The surveys and workshops will provide opportunities to not only identify issues but also to develop strategies to address concerns that arise,” she said.

There would be ongoing discussions with youth organisations to make sure information collected was relevant and useful. By becoming proactive in these areas, the council would be supporting the development of the wider community.

“Within the council’s vision is a commitment to build trust within stronger and safer communities, and to promote the economic, social and cultural advancement of the Far North. Our young people are already a strong component in our communities and will become increasingly so over the next decade,” she said.

At the last census young people (under 25 years) made up 35% of the Far North population. Predications were that over the next five years the percentage of young people in the population would increase significantly as a result of the ‘baby blip’ of the 1980s and early 1990s.

The prediction was that by 2007 there would be some 68,000 more residents aged between15 and 24 years in New Zealand. It is expected that the Far North would match this national trend.

“We need to make sure our young people feel valued, have a sense of belonging and have a strong voice in community decisions,’ Ms McInnes said.

A “Design a Youth Logo” contest has been launched to find a symbol which will become the hallmark of the Far North District Council’s proposed youth initiative.

Entries for the design competition open on 07 June 2005 and close at 5 p.m. on 29 July 2005. The competition carries a cash prize for the winner of $300 plus merchandising associated with the logo.

The logo contest is part of a programme designed to encourage greater participation by young people in the development of their communities.

“We want a symbol designed by youth, that youth will relate to and in which they can take pride- a symbol that recognises the very important part young people play in our communities,” Project Coordinator Tania McInnes said today.

The competition is open to people under 25 years-of-age who reside within the Far North District. Entry is free. Entry forms are available from Service Centres, through the Call Centre on 0800 920 029, or on the following web page Youth Logo Design Competition