Leave for youth work wanted by Girl Guides

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 39

Leave for youth work wanted by Girl Guides

By

SUZANNE KEEN

A campaign has beer launched to have employers recognise youth work in the same way as they would sporting activities.

The national director of the Girl Guide Association, Mrs Marie Brunton, said the campaign had arisen because of the difficulty some youth leaders faced when they sought time off work to attend international training events.

Although it was "almost automatic” for members of national sports teams to be given leave for sporting events, youth leaders had to apply for cultural leave which was awarded more at the discretion of employers. Sometimes they were

forced to take sick leave or unpaid leave.

Mrs Brunton said that only about eight guide leaders were selected each year for overseas training and not all of them worked. Youth leaders returning from such training were more useful within their organisations. “They should have at least the same status as a soccer coach.” Mrs Brunton said the association had contacted the Education Department, the Public Service Association and most State-owned enterprises, all of which supported the move for greater recognition of youth work. One of the reasons the association was forced to look at the issue was that

the number of its leaders who worked outside the home had increased and was continuing to do so.

“More and more women are at risk if they want time off, because their jobs are in jeopardy,” said Mrs Brunton.

Some leaders were also teachers and there was concern as to how the new Boards of Trustees would regard voluntary youth work. The Girl Guide Association belongs to the Federation of New Zealand Youth Organisations, which includes the Scouts, Y.M.C.A., the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade. It wants the push for greater recognition of youth work also to benefit the leaders of the organisations.