Youth Council $600ship funding opens
Published on 08 May 2023
Whanganui District Council’s Youth Council is now accepting applications for their $600ship scholarship programme.
District rangatahi (young people aged 12 to 24 years old) who have exciting ideas for projects or events or anything else that fits the criteria can apply for the “$600ship” funding. This year the focus of the funding is on four main areas: environment/sustainability, diversity/culture, arts/technology and youth development.
The council’s community wellbeing manager, Lauren Tamehana, says, “We welcome all $600ship applications that align with the themes and criteria that the Youth Council has set for 2023.
“We’re excited to hear from young people who are connecting with each other and contributing to local matters and initiatives that focus on positive rangatahi empowerment, leadership, inclusiveness, culture, diversity, arts, technology and education.”
The $600ship funding scheme is one way the Youth Council supports Whanganui’s young people to contribute to local matters. The funding programme was conceptualised and established by the Youth Committee (formerly named the Youth Council) in 2010 as a way to actively support young people throughout the Whanganui district. Initially, grants of $300 were made but these were increased to $600 in 2013.
Since 2014 more than 60 young people have used the funding for a variety of initiatives, including social enterprise and entrepreneurship opportunities, leadership training, representing Whanganui internationally in high-performance sports, kapa haka competitions, personal development programmes and rangatahi-focused projects.
To be eligible for the funding, applicants must live or attend school in the Whanganui district and include a letter of support from their school principal, teacher, tutor, mentor, community leader or employer, along with their application.
Applicants must also demonstrate that the funding will be used for the benefit of rangatahi in the Whanganui district and fall under one of this year’s four funding priorities.
Applications close Thursday, 18 May 2023.
Click through to the application form: https://linktr.ee/wdcyouthcouncil