Community Clean Up programme receives $20,000 funding boost
Thursday 25 September 2008, 3:35PM
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Waitaki’s Community Clean Up programme, aimed at getting young offenders working for the community, is to receive $20,000 in funding from the Perry Foundation, Community Safety Officer Alison Banks announced today.
The Community Clean Up Programme was introduced to Waitaki in November 2006. Mrs Banks said it was developed in response to a high number of young people committing offences, such as vandalism and graffiti, against the local community.
Under the programme, youth who have offended against the community are given tasks such as sweeping and water blasting streets, picking up litter and glass, removing graffiti and painting and repairing Council and public property.
In 2007 alone, 62 young people completed 2,666 hours of service to the community, supervised by the programme’s Youth Worker, Dayle Fraser.
Mrs Banks said that the funding from the Perry Foundation is a huge boost to the programme.
“This funding, in addition to the other support we already receive, will go a long way towards keeping the programme going for another year. We are extremely grateful for the support of all the organisations involved.”
Waitaki District Council, Work and Income New Zealand and the Community Trust of Otago also provide support for the programme. Local Police and Youth Justice are involved as partners.
Oamaru Police Constable, Ross Lory, said that the Community Clean Up programme has been an effective way of making young offenders accountable to the community they have offended against.
“Prior to Community Clean Up being introduced, there was no organised programme where young people could complete alternative action which included tasks that support the community they offended against. This programme is a positive way of making them accountable for their behaviour.”
Constable Lory said that the partnership between the Police, the Council, Youth Justice and the community has been vital to the programme’s success, and that the programme is now receiving attention from outside the Waitaki District.
“A number of other districts have shown interest in the programme due to its uniqueness, partnership approach and high level of success.”
The Community Clean Up project is waiting to hear if one more funding application has been approved. If so, the programme will be fully funded for another year.
Funding options through Government organisations are being investigated, however, other funding is required to keep the programme going in the mean time.