Based in Wainuiomata and Naenae, Youth Inspire collaborates across the public and private sectors to support young people into pathways of employment, study, training, and soft skills as well as driver licencing.

Through Licence to Work and Driver Licencing programmes Youth Inspire provides a responsive approach to wrap around young people not currently engaged in employment, education or training.

Youth Inspire has strong local community and employer connections to ensure the young people they serve can connect with and explore a range of employment and education options. These connections are reflected throughout the organisation, from the make-up of the Board to the work it does advocating, sharing and learning regionally on issues impacting youth.

“The secret to getting ahead is to get started – that’s what I tell the young people who come here for their first ever job,” says Barry Walsh, the Recruitment Officer at Lower Hutt meat processing company Taylor Preston. “We have an obligation to our community to get youth off the street and into work. And here we can give them a start in the world of work. Best of all, it’s a win-win; for the young people, for the community and for our business.”

Todd Foundation grantee Youth Inspire helps find meaningful employment, training and education for unemployed young people in Wainuiamata, near Wellington. This involves partnering with employers like Taylor Preston, the Hutt City Council, education providers and the young people themselves. The approach used is the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs model, which is well known across the country for its holistic and successful approach to youth employment.

Todd Foundation grantee Youth Inspire helps find meaningful employment, training and education for unemployed young people in Wainuiamata, near Wellington. This involves partnering with employers like Taylor Preston, the Hutt City Council, education providers and the young people themselves. The approach used is the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs model, which is well known across the country for its holistic and successful approach to youth employment.

Thomas is one of Taylor Preston’s newest employees. After being out of school and unemployed for four years, Thomas has found work experience and now real work through Youth Inspire. “When you are unemployed, every day is the same; every day is just full of nothing. Now I have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and it feels really good to be doing something constructive with my time.”
“You have to believe in young people,” adds Barry. “If we don’t believe in our youth, and back them to succeed, our future isn’t that bright.”

The Todd Foundation supported Youth Inspire through our youth employment funding focus.