Youth Connect

Hastings District Council adopted the Youth Policy called Youth Connect in 1998. This policy is to empower and celebrate young people, provide services and facilities and look after the wellbeing of Hastings’ youth.

Vision

That young people connect and develop positively with the community.

Who is this for?

Youth Connect is for all young people aged 10-18 years old.

Statistics

From the 2001 Census information for Hastings there are currently 9,927 young people. This is 15% of the total population. 70% of 10-19 year olds are European and 32% Maori compared to 74% European and 23% Maori for the total district.

Youth Policy Review

Youth Connect is reviewed every three years so that it changes with the changing needs of young people. It is a document for young people made by young people. It is a chance to get involved and make Hastings a better place for young people to live and grow up in.

How we did it:

Council has worked hard to meet and listen to the needs of young people and people who work with young people. These are some of the groups who have been involved:

• Young people
  
• Schools
  
• Government Departments
  
• Alternative Education Providers
  
• Youth Organisations and
  
• Community Groups.

Council’s Role:

• In order to work with and for young people Council needs to be proactive in the approach it uses.

Council needs to:

• Network – so young people know what’s out there
  
• Co-ordinate – so young people can have easy access
  
• Facilitate – so young people can be part of the decisions
  
• Advocate – so young people have a voice and are heard
  
• Resource – so young people can have fun
  

Stuff that Matters :

• Participation... it’s good to be involved
  
• Diversity... it’s ok to be different
  
• Communication... it’s cool to korero
  
• Safety... it’s wise to keep safe

Get on to it – Youth wellbeing

1) Safety

Hastings is a safe place for young people to grow up in.

Connect with young people by:

• Encouraging the community to work together and with Council to make a safe, crime-free city.
  
• Ensuring there are safe and accessible places to go.
  
• Encouraging an understanding of diversity and encourage people to become more tolerate of different genders, lifestyles, ethnicity and culture.
  
• Supporting organisations and groups which help young people with issues they are facing such as bullying, alcohol and drugs.

2) Wellbeing

Hastings is a place that promotes positive wellbeing for young people.

Connect with young people by:

• Promoting positive role models in the community.
  
• Trying to find local solutions for youth issues.
  
• Promoting affordable youth services and where to go.
  
• Encouraging young people to connect with older people.

Get up with it – Information/Resources:

1) Knowledge

Hastings is a place where young people can make well-informed choices and have good resources.

Connect with young people by:

• Providing and promoting easy and quick ways to get information about youth services, activities and events. Eg. Youth website.
  
• Promoting affordable activities and events.
  
• Working with other organisations and groups to ensure co-ordination and access to a range of services.
  
• Supporting education, training and employment initiatives both for youth and people who work with youth.
  
• Promoting Council facilities like libraries to young people.

2) Spaces

Hastings is a place that offers young people their own space.

Connect with young people by:

• Supporting Atomic Event Centre.
  
• Ensuring that youth space is friendly and safe.
  
• Incorporating places for youth to hang out when designing new urban development.
  
• Providing recreational, social, art and cultural opportunities and facilities within neighbourhoods and the central city.

Get into it – Participation:

1) Involve

Hastings is a place where young people are acknowledged, valued and respected.

Connect with young people by:

• Seeking and taking into account the views of young people in the development of Council policies and decisions.
  
• Facilitating and providing advice and support to the Hastings Youth Council.
  
• Reviewing ‘Youth Connect’ - A Policy for young people every three years.
  
• Participating with other youth organisations to celebrate youth and promote positive stereotypes. Eg. Role models, Positive media stories, Youth Week, Rotary Youth Awards.
• Encouraging youth to be part of community events.

2) Diversity

Hastings is a place where young people can be who they want to be.

Connect with young people by:

• Supporting and promoting youth art and culture.
  
• Strengthening partnerships with whanau, hapu and iwi.
  
• Understanding and providing for the needs of special groups i.e. Maori, Pacific Island, disabled, rural and new migrants etc.
  
• Creating communities where everyone is respected.

Other Stuff

Relevant documents:

• Treaty of Waitangi
  
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
  
• Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa
  
• Agenda for Children
  
• Hastings Long Term Council Community Plan
  
• Other Council documents

Council facilities for young people:

• Atomic Events Centre
  
• Hastings Sport Centre
  
• Flax Rock Adventure Centre
  
• Swimming pools (Splash Planet, Water World Flaxmere, Frimley Aquatic Centre, Havelock North Pool and Clive War Memorial Swimming Pool)
  
• Libraries (Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere)
  
• Skate parks (Havelock North Domain, Flaxmere Village Green, Ron Giorgi Park, Haumoana Domain)
  
• Parks and Sportsgrounds

Issues young people face in Hastings:

• Bullying
  
• Drug and Alcohol dependence
  
• Teen Pregnancy
  
• Youth Suicide
  
• Gangs
  
• Peer pressure
  
• Violence
  
• Smoking
  
• Relationships
• Quality Caregiver Relationships