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Plant Power in Dunedin
- Rev Richard Dawson (left) and Rev David Grant
Visiting Dunedin's Youth Grow Nursery is an opportunity to see a group of talented young people bringing life from the southern soil.
The nursery is a collaborative effort between Presbyterian Support, Dunedin's Knox and Leith Valley Presbyterian churches and other social services.
Seven 16 to 24-year-olds were selected to develop their future work skills at the nursery. Up to 24 could take part over the next five years.
Leith Valley minister Rev Richard Dawson says the parish sees the nursery as meeting the employment needs of many young people. He attends regular meetings regarding the nursery's development and monitoring will continue on its progress.
"We're open to whatever Youth Grow may need for the future," he says.
Knox Church minister Rev David Grant says parishioners are linked through the church's social justice work group and support takes many forms. These include visiting and buying plants from the nursery, he says.
- Vaughan Milner, Presbyterian Support
"It's a new venture for the churches and for Presbyterian Support. It's not experimental and it's a pioneering move."
The initiative also gained $300,000 from the Council for World Mission to enable the nursery to be bought and property upgrading to go ahead.
The Ministry of Health provides two-year funding for two Youth Grow supervisors.The Community Employment Group is funding another supervisor for the first year.
Work and Income New Zealand also funds the young workers' payment for their first 12 months following PSS Otago's approval from the CEG.
Presbyterian Support Otago director of family and community services Vaughan Milner says Youth Grow's main focus in the immediate future is to see the business develop.
"We don't want to cut into established areas but want to take advantage of new opportunities and gaps in the market."
He says the youths selected for the enterprise have to meet particular criteria. "They need to be young people who want to have a go at the job who may be facing barriers."
- Youth Grow worker Anton Lisk
Youth Grow worker Simon Pearce (20), from Southland, says he is benefitting both financially and in terms of experience through working at the nursery.
"I'm working with great people, in a good environment, five days a week."
"It's good working in the fresh air and meeting people my age," Simon says.
Colleague John Perry (19), from Dunedin, says he particularly enjoys the creative aspect of seeing the different plants grow. "There is always something to do, including the retail side of it."