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A youth-focused programme is facing funding challenges despite a long history of providing beneficial activities to thousands of local children.
NZ Police organisation, North Rodney Blue Light (NRBL) reported last year was another successful year with more than 1700 young people participating in its programmes and activities.
Run by community youth coordinator Shane Gould for more than 28 years, supported by Mangawhai senior constable Rob Cato as chair, NRBL involves local officers, parents and volunteers, as well as a long list of local businesses, clubs, churches and charities.
Gould says funding will be a priority issue this year following the withdrawal of some major sponsors, including the Ministry of Social Development and NZ Lotteries.
“We used to deal directly with the funder, but because we’re an incorporated society, contracts have to go through our national organisation,” Gould says.
“They’ve got to look at priorities – it’s just one of those things. We’re still waiting, hopefully for some positive news from them.”
Operating since 1992, NRBL’s mission is to support young people’s self-esteem and empower youth to make positive choices while having fun.
The NRBL crew run 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 such as team-building activities, mountain biking and high ropes. Last year, 93 students completed the six-day course including six Otamatea High School students, with Felix Le Mesurier-Cowbourne winning Platoon One Peer Award and Mea Clutterbuck the Excellence Award for Platoon Two.
Six Year 5 and 6 students from Wellsford Primary and 17 from Mangawhai Beach School also took part in a personal development and mentoring programme in December. The course was so popular the schools have asked for it to be repeated this year.
“We’ve had some really good relationships with the kids and had some really good outcomes, particularly with our life skills and leadership camps,” Gould says.
“Over the years we’ve trialled a couple of new camps, which the schools enjoyed us doing. 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 they are not paid through the police, which is a common misperception. The present economic climate facing a lot of community groups is affecting us, too.”
Gould said support from the community and local businesses had always been good.
“We’ve got new police staff getting involved in a positive way and we’d like to bring on another youth worker.”
Gould says Blue Light wants all kids to have positive lifestyle alternatives and strategies to avoid becoming an offender or victim of crime.
“I suppose it reflects on my upbringing,” he says. “I wasn’t in trouble at all, I was just under the radar. Then the police gave me opportunities and that’s what I guess I’m trying to replicate.”
