Youth worker Heath Hutton has received Wellington Community Trusts’ Young Community Leader’s Award for his work with young people. His work as a youth justice co-ordinator brings him in contact with young offenders who are then provided with innovative and supportive programmes. Heath also sings in the Wellington Youth Choir, and is a member of its organising committee. He is also involved with youth ministry in his church.
Wellington Community Trust, in partnership with Wellington International Airport Limited and the five local councils, have joined together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the wider Wellington region. The focus of the Awards is to recognise and reward the valuable contribution made by volunteers. The overall supreme winner will represent the region at the National Trust Power Community Awards.
Heath works at Challenge 2000 which is Youth Development, Community and Family Work agency which is committed to responding to the Gospel by working with people in the search for social justice, social responsibility and personal dignity. It is located in Johnsonville in Wellington. Their programmes provide support for over 2,900 young people in groups, homes, schools and communities in Wellington, Porirua and Lower Hutt and have also been involved in delivering programmes as far away as Tauranga, Gisborne, Wairarapa and Manawatu.
Challenge 2000 says the Supported Bail programme that Heath conducts, “continues to plant the seeds of change in the lives of young people who are involved in the Youth Justice system. We have seen huge transformation occur during this six week programme, with young people successfully completing the programme and complying with their bail conditions. It’s a privilege to see the young people starting to walk tall and hold their heads high, knowing that they can be proud of the choices they are making. It’s not always a straightforward journey but the young people gain some skills and knowledge to help them as they transition into the next stage of their lives.”
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