Youth policy urged

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33408, 14 December 1973, Page 2

Youth policy urged

/New Zealand Pre»« Aejoctarion

WELLINGTON, December 13. New Zealand needs a comprehensive youth policy within which the youth services of Government departments. local bodies and voluntary agencies can develop to meet the needs of an ever-changing society, the Social Council believes.

The council, a sector of the National Develop-! ment Council, today approved a comprehensive report “towards a youth services policy for New Zealand” which will be distributed widely next year. The council says in the report that at present there is, no over-all direction to serve; as guidelines for expansion and further development. Iti notes that 40 per cent of the population are under 20. ADVISORY BOARD I The council has recommended that a small permanent advisory body, including' representatives of Government and voluntary youth services and young people, be established within the Council of Social Welfare Services to oversee the development of a youth service policy. “While youth have their: problems and needs, their well-being cannot be seen in isolation but must be provided, for within a community! framework,” the report says.| "It is important that youth services help young people to help themselves rather than' provide full organised pro-1 grammes, the process being ■S important as the end result. “Young people can contribute to a community, they can see changes and can act creatively. Because of their flexibility they are better able to see, identify and respond to certain communityneeds. To do this, however.! encouragement and the support of human and material resources is necessary.” RECOMMENDATIONS The council recommends.—! Recruitment, training and! employment of profes-| sionally trained youth I and community workers. The possibility of establishing! a pool of equipment suit-] able for youth servicei activities and a directory!

’ of facilities for use by I community groups. The provision of minimum requirements for youth services and recreation facilities m a community area, and that these be incorporated in any development with financial assistance from the Government and other sources. .The development of temporary, mobile and econonomica 1 buildings for use as youth services facilities. Present facilities should also be used to their maximum.