Rangatahi into Employment

Purpose

The Wairoa Rangatahi Into Employment Fund aims to improve skills and employment opportunities for young people (aged 16 to 25) in the Wairoa District. The Wairoa Community Partnership Governance Group will oversee this funding and approve expenditure via a small sub-group of members. This initiative will look first at programmes, services and funding already in place to support young people into work and complement those supports if needed. The majority of the funds should be used to benefit rangatahi directly.

Principles/Criteria

• Any funding applied for must directly benefit the rangatahi
• Funding must be used to move rangatahi further along their journey to sustained employment - i.e: be linked to an upskilling and/or employment opportunity for that rangatahi
• Applicants must be in need of support to access sustained employment opportunities, remain in sustained employment or advance in their current employment
• Other funding sources should be considered first - e.g. whanau support, Ministry of Social Development support, employer support
• Specific priority will be given to rangatahi who are not currently in employment, education or training
• Capital items e.g. laptops, computers, vehicles will not generally be considered unless there is a clear employment outcome through the provision of these things
• Rangatahi individuals only are eligible to apply for this fund. This fund is not a funding support stream for education training providers, local agencies, education support services or schools.

Process

1. Applicant completes application form
2. The rangatahi submits the application (below), or they can submit a hard-copy form to the administrator via email (austin@wairoadc.govt.nz) or drop-in at the Wairoa i-SITE. If the applicant applies via the online form below, the form will be sent directly to the administrator
3. The administrator and/or the panel will consider the application. This can take up to 72 hours to process, and for either the administrator or the panel to make a decision
4. The administrator will notify the applicant whether or not the administrator or the panel require more time to process an application
5. Funding is approved or declined
6. The rangatahi applicant will be notified of the administrator's/panel's decision
7. If the funding application is successful, the rangatahi applicant will be required to send a verified bank statement - that can clearly verify their bank details - to the administrator
8. If funding applied for is less than $2000, the application can be considered and approved or declined by Wairoa District Council. If approved, the successful application will be signed by two Council representatives administering the fund
9. If funding applied for is greater than $2000 – a panel comprising local agencies and iwi will consider the application. This can be done via email and/or teleconference.

NB: Where possible when funding is declined – alternative options can be provided to the applicant from the panel and/or Wairoa District Council

Extra Evidence Required

1. A rangatahi, whose application is successful, must provide evidence that they have undertaken/purchased what was stated in their application. This evidence must be submitted to the administrator immediately after purchase
2. If an approved application is seeking support to purchase resources, tools, work equipment, capital items etc, receipts outlining these purchases must be kept and sent to the administrator
3. If an approved application is seeking support to access sustained employment opportunities or to upskill in sustained employment opportunities (i.e. the rangatahi intends to undertake a course, education program, workshop or training), the rangatahi must submit proof that they have registered to the training program (email confirmation from providers or receipts etc will be suffice)
4. A rangatahi, whose application for financial assistance has been approved, will be required to submit a 100-200 word career plan summary (two or three sentences) of how they intend to further themselves in their career
5. Rangatahi who do not submit any evidence, as outlined above or within a timeframe given by the administrator/the panel, can be asked to return in full the grant amount they were paid