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June 08, 2017 at 4:24 PM

*From the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse*

The Vodafone Foundation has committed $20 million over the next 10 years to support youth at risk.

The first round of funding opened for applications today, 1 June 2017 in the Innovation Fund. Applications close on 14 July 2017 at 5pm.

The Foundation was established in 2002 and has focused on empowering young people to reach their full potential. At the beginning of 2017, the Foundation examined their focus and current trends in supporting young people. They organised stakeholder hui around the country and commissioned an evaluation of their previous work and a literature review.

As a result of their research and learnings, the foundation is now focusing on youth at risk. Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Chair Antony Welton said "According to Treasury data there are 210,000 young people at risk. Our aim is to halve that number by 2027. It’s an ambitious goal, and we know we’ll have to make some big changes to do so."

The Foundation has identified four key areas where the new approach will focus:

• "Youth who have interacted with the justice system, themselves, or via their caregivers;
• Young people who have had interactions with Child Youth and Family or Oranga Tamariki;
• Young people who have a disability, health or mental health needs that require additional support (ie. special education services or disability benefits)
• and young people who are long term beneficiaries."

Related information

Treasury released reports on factors that place on youth at risk (based on administrative data) in 2015 and 2016. For further information, see these previous NZFVC news stories:

Treasury releases report, infographics and online tool on youth at risk

Government expands use of integrated data, analyses risk for children and youth

Media

Vodafone raises the profile of its charitable arm to increase reach, Stuff, 11.05.2017