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A Wellsford-based regional youth programme is facing funding challenges despite a long history of providing beneficial activities to thousands of local children and teenagers.
North Rodney Blue Light (NRBL) has been run by community youth coordinator Shane Gould for more than 29 years, working with local police officers, parents and volunteers, as well as a long list of businesses, clubs, churches and charities. Last year, the group ran programmes and activities for more than 1700 young people.
However, Gould says funding will be a priority issue this year following the withdrawal of major sponsors, including the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
“We received good news last week that our National Blue Light has been able to obtain funding again from the Lotteries Board, which has helped our branch with the same amount of funding we received previously,” he says.
“But this still means we have to secure further funding for salaries and operational costs, with not having MSD funding.”
Gould’s team runs school camps and holiday programmes that encourage children and teens to challenge themselves with various adventurous activities such as kayaking, archery, air rifles, fishing and sailing.
Initiatives for older youth include leadership programmes, which feature team-building activities, white water rafting, mountain biking and high ropes. Last year, 93 students completed a six-day leadership course, including one from Mahurangi College and six Otamatea High School students.
Six Year 5 and 6 students from Wellsford Primary took part in a personal development and mentoring programme in December, which proved so popular that the school has asked for it to be repeated this year.
NRBL also ran its first Youth Fishing Programme at Mangawhai and is currently planning a second one in Warkworth.
“We’ve had some really good relationships with the kids and had positive outcomes, particularly with our life skills and leadership camps,” Gould says.
“We’d like to expand our programmes, but this will be dependent on funding.
“We’ve been very generous in the way we subsidise our programmes and individuals and they are not paid through the police, which is a common misconception. The present economic climate facing a lot of community groups is affecting us, too.”
Gould says support from the community and local businesses has always been good.
“We’ve got some new police staff getting involved in a real positive way, which is great though they’re all short-staffed too, of course.
“We’d like to bring on another youth worker to help us and we’re keen to get younger adults involved with us as our committee, including myself, is not getting any younger,” he says. “There is also a big change in the school population staff-wise, there are a lot of new staff who don’t realise what we have been offering, so we have to re-market ourselves a lot of times.”
Gould says basically the Blue Light organisation wants all kids to have an opportunity, especially those who otherwise would not be given one.
“We’ve always given an opportunity for a kid who’s showing some potential. But the programmes all cost money. It’s a real balancing act this year with how we proceed.”
Bluelight is still hoping to expand its activities in the area and is looking for sponsors for programmes.
If anyone can help, contact Gould on 027 458 7485 or bluelightwellsford@gmail.com, or donations can be made to account 12-3094-0128614-00
