The impetus for Youth Inspire (YI) came from a deep concern amongst key Wainuiomata community members that young people were being neglected in terms of education and employment opportunities. YI is part of the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs and the organisation has strong partnerships with Hutt City Council and local Wainuiomata community and business. According to the YI website, “our focus is to see all young people under 25 engaged in meaningful employment, training, or education.” 

YI support young people by delivering a free Youth Employability Programme developed by COMET. This helps them to learn key employment skills/competencies, apply them in work placements and connect with community via volunteer projects. The Youth Employability Programme runs for 14 weeks. YI also run a youth driving school, delivering Learner, Restricted and Full driver licencing programmes. They also help young people by assisting them to gain micro-credentials i.e. First Aid certificate; Fork Lift Licence etc and by providing support to those who may already be work-ready. 

An explicit focus is placed on the wellbeing of young people and giving individualised care and support without judgement.

The Todd Foundation funded Youth Inspire under our place-based Youth 2 Employment programme and the below story/case study shares more about their work, the outcomes and learnings observed from our years of partnership.