Mission for Youth

If everything in your life seems difficult; school, home, family it's easy to lose your way.  Mission for Youth works to give young people another chance, a better future, a life full of hope. 

Our Vision

Being an outstanding provider of Alternative Education and social development for young people at risk or out of mainstream education.

Outline

This programme is about dealing with the underlying causes of problems experienced by very troubled students.  Programme staff help students to identify, understand and deal with the problems and issues that have placed them at risk.

In addition, the programme provides the opportunity for students to work from their level of understanding and capability, at their own pace, to achieve really meaningful objectives in their secondary school work, in their personal relationships and with their leisure activities.

The programme is basically about behaviour change - about turning lives around and achieving positive outcomes.

It prepares students for their lives to come after secondary school.

At this time of the year, The Mission Newsletter focuses on the Mission for Youth programme.  A copy of this Newsletter may be downloaded here ... Mission March Newsletter.

Who are the students we help?
  • 14 - 17 years of age.
  • From within the greater Wellington region.
  • Many come from dysfunctional families.  Some are struggling financially with a poor quality of life.
  • Only 20% have the care and support of both parents.
  • Many have suffered from various forms of abuse - emotional, physical, sexual.
  • Many have been seriously under-achieving academically and socially.  Mainstream education hasn't worked for these students, due to their special needs, and mainstream secondary schools are not equipped to deal with them.
  • Most have run into serious trouble in mainstream schools.  They've been repeatedly suspended for anti-social behaviour and/or involvement with alcohol and drugs.  Some have dropped out of school entirely, often for many months and have nowhere to go during the day, except to The Mission.
  • Two thirds have experienced problems with drugs and/or alcohol, a quarter have psychological disorders, or have suffered from emotional instability.
  • Most have lost their self esteem and have been looking for new ways of being accepted.  This means associating with poor role models including drug users and criminals.  Some have been put down so often they are suicidal.
  • They have entered the Mission for Youth programme because they want to transform their lives.

How the programme helps ...

  • Through counselling, personal support, advocacy and mentoring, at-risk youth are assisted to confront and deal with the serious personal issues that are preventing them functioning effectively in mainstream education and society.
  • Through the use of innovative educational, recreational and life skills programmes, at-risk youth are assisted to learn - in an academic and in a social sense.
  • At-risk youth are helped to build on their achievements, attain a better quality of life, and move on back to secondary school, or tertiary education, or into paid employment.
Ministry of Education Alternative Education enrolment criteria
  • Students must have been out of school for two or more terms
  • History of persistent truancy from school
  • Failure to achieve success in mainstream education
  • Exclusions/or refusals by other schools
  • Case conference or high risk referrals
  • Referred by other Alternative Education programmes
The programme structure
  • Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 3:00pm
  • Half day on Friday
  • Four terms
  • Two adventure-based learning camps per year
  • Individual academic classroom work sessions in the mornings
  • Structured group education and activities in sports, life skills, creative arts and social development in the afternoon sessions

 Cost/funding

  • Mission for Youth is now into it's 12th year.  27% of our annual costs are met by Ministry of Education and Child, Youth & Family funding, with the balance being raised by general Wellington City Mission fundraising.  There are some costs listed below which are incurred by students:
  • Student placements cost $50.00 per term for Alternative Education funded students. Includes lunches, camps, activities, student ID and classroom stationery
  • NZQA registration fees of $75 per annum
  • Caregivers/parents are responsible for travelling costs
  • Non Alternative Education/high-risk students will be levied at a service rate of $308.00 per week

For more information please contact:

John Chapman
Manager, Mission for Youth

Phone: 04-389 0627 
johnc@wgtncitymission.org.nz


Click here to download our Mission for Youth brochure

The Mission's 'Transition to Work' programme is also is part of the work we implement within Mission for Youth.  Please click here to find out more - Transition to Work