Community

Youth Transition services like Canterbury Youth Transition Services (CYTS) work to help young people aged 15 – 19 years who’ve left school, to fulfil their potential as New Zealand’s future.

Focus groups with school pupils and Work and Income clients found many young people had low expectations, low self-esteem and were not prepared for life after school. They said it was a good idea, even necessary, for them to have a support system they could turn to for help.

Between 29,000 and 44,000 young people nationally are not participating in work, education or training. That’s a high rate of inactivity by international standards.

For every young person who doesn’t transition to work, training or further education there is an economic and social cost. Inactive young people face heightened risks of poor outcomes including lower earning capacity, greater reliance on social assistance, criminal offending, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and poorer mental and physical health.

Canterbury Youth Transition Services is part of the Government’s youth policy which recognises the need to assist young people. It also complements the national Mayors Taskforce for Jobs policy which aims to ensure all young people up to 25 years will be in work, training or education.

Work and Income

The Regional Commissioner for Social Development is committed to supporting the goal to have all young people reach economic and social independence through employment, further education or training. All Work and Income staff are also committed to helping young people reach their potential through employment. The Ministry of Social Development’s Work and Income service funds Canterbury Youth Transition Services.

Schools

The majority of mainstream secondary schools in Canterbury are supporting their school leavers by providing information to Canterbury Youth Transition Services. Staff in these schools play an important role in helping young people to shape their future by referring those who are unsure of where their next step is to Canterbury Youth Transition Services. Many schools also have Careers Advisors or Guidance Counsellors to help before young people leave school.

If you want help, let the Contact Centre know – but you don’t need to wait for them to call.

You can phone Canterbury Youth Transition Services and C Y it works 4 U on:

0800 900 100

or txt 029 770 1316