Youth in Emergency Services
The Youth in Emergency Services (YES) programme has been described as one of the best youth development programmes in the world. The best thing about the YES programme is that it is community based, community delivered and community owned. The YES programmes flips the traditional model of delivering youth development programmes upside down. The programme does not talk about ‘youth in need’ but about how ‘we need youth’. It does not require a group of youth development professionals to lead, it requires local community volunteers to lead. The YES programme is about local people doing what local people do, and having an expectation that their young people will join them to ensure a positive and safe community for all.
The Need
Three key areas were recognised as issues within the Rotorua community:
Key Objectives
The YES programme aims to increase active youth citizenship within rural communities. Its objectives are to:
The Need
Three key areas were recognised as issues within the Rotorua community:
- Decreased connection of young people to their community.
- Declining pool of emergency service volunteers, and
- Increasing environmental related emergency events.
Key Objectives
The YES programme aims to increase active youth citizenship within rural communities. Its objectives are to:
- Increase young people’s connection to their local community
- Increase protective factors to decrease isolation
- Increase skills, knowledge and motivation of young people
- Increase volunteering by young people
- Strengthen local emergency services
The YES Model
Rotorua’s emergency services formed a joint working group to design and deliver the YES programme.
Key elements of the model are:
Rotorua’s emergency services formed a joint working group to design and deliver the YES programme.
Key elements of the model are:
- Recruitment: Up to 20 young people are selected for each programme.
- Phase 1 - Inspirational Orientation: Participants are introduced to a different emergency service each week, involving a two hour evening session followed by a half day activity-based orientation.
- Phase 1 runs over 5 weeks, culminating in an overnight scenario based camp that the emergency services run together. The young people can demonstrate their new skills across all services in actual scenarios such as searching for a missing person, rescuing people from rivers, performing first aid, or responding to bush fires.
- Phase 2: Participants choose one emergency service to volunteer with for two months, attending all training's and call outs as any volunteer would. Following their volunteering phase they apply to become full volunteer member of a service of their choice.
- Graduation: A graduation ceremony, with presentations by the Mayor recognises the young people’s important role in supporting their community.
YES Volunteer Working Group
The Rotorua YES Volunteer Working Group is made up of representatives from Rotorua’s volunteer emergency services and other supporting organisations, including Lake Ōkāreka Fire Brigade, St John, NZ Fire Service, Land Search and Rescue, Urban Rescue Team, River Rescue, Red Cross, Rescue Helicopter alongside Civil Defence, Ministry of Social Development and Ngati Manawa. The programme is delivered by emergency service volunteer staff. This can involve up to 100 volunteers, providing over 80 volunteer hours per programme.
Funding
The first YES pilot programme was not funded. As a result of the excellent outcomes achieved by the first programme the Minister of Youth, Hon Nikki Kaye, allocated funding of $10,000 per programme. Each subsequent programme in Rotorua and around New Zealand has applied to the Ministry for this financial support, which covers the costs of co-ordination and out of pocket expenses incurred by the volunteer emergency service.
The Rotorua YES Volunteer Working Group is made up of representatives from Rotorua’s volunteer emergency services and other supporting organisations, including Lake Ōkāreka Fire Brigade, St John, NZ Fire Service, Land Search and Rescue, Urban Rescue Team, River Rescue, Red Cross, Rescue Helicopter alongside Civil Defence, Ministry of Social Development and Ngati Manawa. The programme is delivered by emergency service volunteer staff. This can involve up to 100 volunteers, providing over 80 volunteer hours per programme.
Funding
The first YES pilot programme was not funded. As a result of the excellent outcomes achieved by the first programme the Minister of Youth, Hon Nikki Kaye, allocated funding of $10,000 per programme. Each subsequent programme in Rotorua and around New Zealand has applied to the Ministry for this financial support, which covers the costs of co-ordination and out of pocket expenses incurred by the volunteer emergency service.
History
The Rotorua YES programme was originally developed by Blair Gilbert and Philip Muldoon from the Lake Ōkāreka Rural Fire Force, which resulted in the first pilot programme in 2013. This was very successful and the evaluations showed a significant shift in young people’s connection to community, connection to others and a belief they could do something in a time of need.
The outcome measures highlighted active youth citizenship and suicide prevention which were of interest to the Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon Nikki Kaye. “I was very impressed with the successful YES pilot programme run in Rotorua this year. I believe it is important to give young people in other areas the opportunity to experience this great programme,”.
On the 22nd September the Minister announced that $60,000 in funding would be available to run YES programmes in six New Zealand communities. “This funding will extend the YES programme to run in Kaikohe, Mangakino-Taupo, Gisborne, Alexandra, Kaikoura and a second programme in Rotorua. “This project gives these young New Zealanders a great opportunity to give back to their communities and see first-hand the outstanding job that our emergency services do. “They get to learn from representatives from voluntary emergency services including fire brigades, ambulance, civil defence and search & rescue. “When I visited the graduation ceremony for the pilot programme in Rotorua in April, participants told me they felt more connected to their community and that they had gained skills and knowledge to enable them to help others. “People involved in the pilot programme couldn’t speak highly enough of the commitment shown and the impact that many of the emergency services representatives had on the lives of the young people participating,” Ms Kaye says.
The Rotorua YES working group ran a second programme in 2014, with increased evaluation measures. Again the programme achieved some of the most significant outcomes of any youth development programme funded by the government. “By getting young people to participate in a range of emergency services, we both strengthen the capability of those emergency services and give young people important opportunities to show leadership in their communities,” Ms Kaye says. “The feedback I have had from local government representatives in the six communities to run this programme is that they are delighted to have this opportunity for young people in their town or city.”
Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye announced an additional $200,000 in funding to expand the YES programme in May 2014. "I understand that these programmes have received positive feedback from the coordinators, service volunteers, and young participants,” Ms Kaye says. “I am pleased to confirm that the programme has been extended to fund a further 20 New Zealand communities between 2014 and 2016.”
In 2015 the Rotorua YES working group was approached by Work and Income and ran a YES programme for unemployed youth. In the same year, the Rotorua YES working group ran the first Iwi-based YES programme in partnership with Ngati Manawa. And have supported the roll out of the YES programme to over 20 communities across New Zealand.
The Rotorua YES programme was originally developed by Blair Gilbert and Philip Muldoon from the Lake Ōkāreka Rural Fire Force, which resulted in the first pilot programme in 2013. This was very successful and the evaluations showed a significant shift in young people’s connection to community, connection to others and a belief they could do something in a time of need.
The outcome measures highlighted active youth citizenship and suicide prevention which were of interest to the Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon Nikki Kaye. “I was very impressed with the successful YES pilot programme run in Rotorua this year. I believe it is important to give young people in other areas the opportunity to experience this great programme,”.
On the 22nd September the Minister announced that $60,000 in funding would be available to run YES programmes in six New Zealand communities. “This funding will extend the YES programme to run in Kaikohe, Mangakino-Taupo, Gisborne, Alexandra, Kaikoura and a second programme in Rotorua. “This project gives these young New Zealanders a great opportunity to give back to their communities and see first-hand the outstanding job that our emergency services do. “They get to learn from representatives from voluntary emergency services including fire brigades, ambulance, civil defence and search & rescue. “When I visited the graduation ceremony for the pilot programme in Rotorua in April, participants told me they felt more connected to their community and that they had gained skills and knowledge to enable them to help others. “People involved in the pilot programme couldn’t speak highly enough of the commitment shown and the impact that many of the emergency services representatives had on the lives of the young people participating,” Ms Kaye says.
The Rotorua YES working group ran a second programme in 2014, with increased evaluation measures. Again the programme achieved some of the most significant outcomes of any youth development programme funded by the government. “By getting young people to participate in a range of emergency services, we both strengthen the capability of those emergency services and give young people important opportunities to show leadership in their communities,” Ms Kaye says. “The feedback I have had from local government representatives in the six communities to run this programme is that they are delighted to have this opportunity for young people in their town or city.”
Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye announced an additional $200,000 in funding to expand the YES programme in May 2014. "I understand that these programmes have received positive feedback from the coordinators, service volunteers, and young participants,” Ms Kaye says. “I am pleased to confirm that the programme has been extended to fund a further 20 New Zealand communities between 2014 and 2016.”
In 2015 the Rotorua YES working group was approached by Work and Income and ran a YES programme for unemployed youth. In the same year, the Rotorua YES working group ran the first Iwi-based YES programme in partnership with Ngati Manawa. And have supported the roll out of the YES programme to over 20 communities across New Zealand.
Outcomes
The principle outcomes for YES programme participants are:
Secondary outcomes include:
The principle outcomes for YES programme participants are:
- Increased connection to community
- Increased skills, knowledge and motivation to help in a time of need
- Actual and/or intention to participate in volunteer activity
- Increased involvement in education, training and employment
Secondary outcomes include:
- Increased community resilience
- Increased collaboration between emergency service
- Increased volunteer pool for emergency services
- Increased valuing of young people within the community
The outcomes to rural communities, from the Far North to the lower South Island, have been significant with benefits for both the participants and for the emergency services across all programmes. Communities have become better equipped to handle emergencies, and young people have become more connected and involved as active participants in their communities.
MYD is continuing to work through local volunteer New Zealand Fire Services to deliver the programme.
MYD is continuing to work through local volunteer New Zealand Fire Services to deliver the programme.
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20th March 2016 - Rotorua Group Get National Recognition
Rotorua group Youth in Emergency Services has received national recognition, being named the runner-up at the Trustpower National Community Awards.
The awards were announced on Saturday night at the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards Dinner, held at the Dunedin Town Hall. The announcement comes after a full day for the 25 teams participating in the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards. Each regional team gave an eight minute presentation during four judging sessions, as well as provide a 1000 word summary about the group.
Youth in Emergency Services was represented at the awards by Blair Gilbert and Phillip Muldoon, along with Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and her husband John Chadwick. The organisation received $2500 prize money plus a certificate and an Exult consultancy voucher worth $500.
Mr Gilbert said they were ecstatic and humbled by the award. "You don't do this kind of work to get an award, you do it because it's right and helps make New Zealand a better place, but we are appreciative of the recognition for the hard work we are doing. "We had an amazing time in Dunedin and it was humbling to be around all these people doing other amazing things in their communities."
Mr Gilbert said the presentation was a "great team effort with others involved going right back to the start". "Even though it was Steve, Phil and I representing the programme, there are so many others behind its success - particularly the volunteer emergency service staff who were willing to think differently and dedicate their time to help it grow."
Mrs Chadwick said the programme was well received by other regions. "There were a lot of other areas who said they would benefit from this programme and thought it was fantastic. "Both Blair and Phillip did a remarkable job and made us all proud."
A brand new award was also announced and presented to Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team from Whakatane District for being identified as a group with strong potential to grow.
The 2015 Trustpower National Community Award Supreme Winner was West Otago Health Trust from the Clutha District. It was also announced that Rotorua will host the 2016 Trustpower National Community Awards in March 2017. Around 160 people will converge on Rotorua for the 17th annual three-day event.
The awards were announced on Saturday night at the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards Dinner, held at the Dunedin Town Hall. The announcement comes after a full day for the 25 teams participating in the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards. Each regional team gave an eight minute presentation during four judging sessions, as well as provide a 1000 word summary about the group.
Youth in Emergency Services was represented at the awards by Blair Gilbert and Phillip Muldoon, along with Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and her husband John Chadwick. The organisation received $2500 prize money plus a certificate and an Exult consultancy voucher worth $500.
Mr Gilbert said they were ecstatic and humbled by the award. "You don't do this kind of work to get an award, you do it because it's right and helps make New Zealand a better place, but we are appreciative of the recognition for the hard work we are doing. "We had an amazing time in Dunedin and it was humbling to be around all these people doing other amazing things in their communities."
Mr Gilbert said the presentation was a "great team effort with others involved going right back to the start". "Even though it was Steve, Phil and I representing the programme, there are so many others behind its success - particularly the volunteer emergency service staff who were willing to think differently and dedicate their time to help it grow."
Mrs Chadwick said the programme was well received by other regions. "There were a lot of other areas who said they would benefit from this programme and thought it was fantastic. "Both Blair and Phillip did a remarkable job and made us all proud."
A brand new award was also announced and presented to Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team from Whakatane District for being identified as a group with strong potential to grow.
The 2015 Trustpower National Community Award Supreme Winner was West Otago Health Trust from the Clutha District. It was also announced that Rotorua will host the 2016 Trustpower National Community Awards in March 2017. Around 160 people will converge on Rotorua for the 17th annual three-day event.
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14th June 2015 - Youth Project Scoops Supreme Community Award
An initiative that opens doors for young people to volunteer or follow a career path in the emergency services has been named the supreme winner at the 2015 Trustpower Rotorua Lakes Community Awards.
Youth In Emergency Services started as a programme at Lake Ōkāreka but now encapsulates the whole of Rotorua and has been taken up by other districts. The five-week course is run by the Ministry of Youth Development and Rotorua emergency services. Last night's awards, at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, resulted in more than $5000 being given to community groups.
As well as the group awards there were also five Rotorua Lakes Community Awards presented. There were given to Cheryl Campbell, Phil Muldoon, Tony Baker, Diana Adlam and Terry Beckett.
The Youth in Emergency Services group will now go on to the Trustpower National Community Awards, being held in Dunedin in March.
Trustpower community relations representative Jess Somerville said what started as a great idea, within the Youth in Emergency Services working group, had grown into a very successful pilot programme being rolled out in other communities. "This programme is clever on so many levels," she said. "It's giving youth an insight into the importance of our emergency services, the value of volunteering for the greater good of the community and it is helping to bridge many of these youth into the work force too. "Rotorua residents can be proud in knowing that this programme started in Rotorua thanks to some very driven volunteers and this is a real testament to the value people put on community here."
The 15 youth attending the course are exposed to five different emergency services including fire brigades, ambulance and search and rescue. The programme culminates in a combined weekend camp where the young people respond to a series of emergency scenarios. They are then supported to become volunteers in a service of their choice.
Blair Gilbert, who helped design the project, said he was lost for words at the win. "It's unbelievable," he said. "This is about all the emergency services that make it what it is. It's a combined effort. We've worked with job seekers this year and got them active in their communities. The other benefits are that the emergency services are working together." Mr Gilbert finished his role with the Ministry of Youth Development yesterday and said it was a high note to go out on.
Mr Muldoon, who is the chief fire officer with Lake Ōkāreka Rural Fire, said the idea for YES came many years ago when the pair were on a conference. It was now being modelled across the country, with a project currently under way in Murupara with Ngati Manawa.
Youth In Emergency Services started as a programme at Lake Ōkāreka but now encapsulates the whole of Rotorua and has been taken up by other districts. The five-week course is run by the Ministry of Youth Development and Rotorua emergency services. Last night's awards, at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, resulted in more than $5000 being given to community groups.
As well as the group awards there were also five Rotorua Lakes Community Awards presented. There were given to Cheryl Campbell, Phil Muldoon, Tony Baker, Diana Adlam and Terry Beckett.
The Youth in Emergency Services group will now go on to the Trustpower National Community Awards, being held in Dunedin in March.
Trustpower community relations representative Jess Somerville said what started as a great idea, within the Youth in Emergency Services working group, had grown into a very successful pilot programme being rolled out in other communities. "This programme is clever on so many levels," she said. "It's giving youth an insight into the importance of our emergency services, the value of volunteering for the greater good of the community and it is helping to bridge many of these youth into the work force too. "Rotorua residents can be proud in knowing that this programme started in Rotorua thanks to some very driven volunteers and this is a real testament to the value people put on community here."
The 15 youth attending the course are exposed to five different emergency services including fire brigades, ambulance and search and rescue. The programme culminates in a combined weekend camp where the young people respond to a series of emergency scenarios. They are then supported to become volunteers in a service of their choice.
Blair Gilbert, who helped design the project, said he was lost for words at the win. "It's unbelievable," he said. "This is about all the emergency services that make it what it is. It's a combined effort. We've worked with job seekers this year and got them active in their communities. The other benefits are that the emergency services are working together." Mr Gilbert finished his role with the Ministry of Youth Development yesterday and said it was a high note to go out on.
Mr Muldoon, who is the chief fire officer with Lake Ōkāreka Rural Fire, said the idea for YES came many years ago when the pair were on a conference. It was now being modelled across the country, with a project currently under way in Murupara with Ngati Manawa.
