Timaru
District Council has joined a national scheme aimed at
helping get more young people into sustainable
employment.
The Council has secured funding through
the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs Community Employment
Programme Initiative Fund.
TDC will be
joining 36 other councils across the country, with 6,000
employment outcomes achieved as of December 2023 since its
contract with the Ministry of Social Development began in
2019.
The Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs
(MTFJ) Community Employment Programme is a nationwide
partnership between Local Government New Zealand and the
Ministry of Social Development that has a strong focus on
getting young people into sustainable employment.
The
programme highlights the power of localism, working at a
grassroots level promoting community-led solutions for youth
employment, education, and training.
The MTFJ
Community Employment Programme’s success relies on councils
having the power and funding to address the challenges in
their community with tailored solutions.
Timaru
District Mayor Nigel Bowen said that communities similar to
Timaru District the outcomes of the initiative had been
positive.
“It is great that young people in our
community will have the opportunity here for flexible,
wrap-around support,” he said.
“Timaru District is
the South Island’s food bowl, our district boasts a
diverse array of essential food crops, substantial dairy
operations and meat production.”
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“We are in a
prime spot for our people, especially those wanting to get
into the local primary production and agri-business
sectors.”
The task force will be a way to support
young people to get into a job without the barrier of not
knowing anyone in the industry they are thinking
about.
“We will be able to use our existing
community connections, particularly with businesses and
employers, and working with other great employment programs
already in the community,” he said.
The funding
received will play a crucial role in planning programme
visits, providing necessary equipment, and potentially
offering subsidies to employers willing to engage and employ
local rangatahi.
“It is another demographic our
community development team are working with, aligning with
our commitment to bridge the gap with youth unemployment,
specifically in our smaller towns of the district,” Bowen
said.
“There is an abundance of opportunities within
our local sectors and now we can be the bridge to getting
our young people in them and staying in the district after
their
schooling.”
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading