Air Force partnership recognised

The innovative partnership between the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Child, Youth and Family has been recognised at the Robin Hood Foundation’s Social Hero Awards. 

The Air Force won the Innovative Solutions Award for its work in providing mentoring to youth offenders and opportunities to children and young people in care.

The partnership evolved following an event in August 2007 when the Air Force’s 40 Squadron treated 50 kids in care and their caregivers to a flight over Auckland in a C-130 Hercules. 

Since this time, Air Force personnel have regularly visited the Auckland youth justice residence and have run an eight-week mentoring programme at Whenuapai for a group of young offenders. The mother of one young person on the mentoring programme contacted his social worker to say it had improved his behaviour out of sight. 

Air Force Chief Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott and Child, Youth and Family Deputy Chief Executive Ray Smith have signed a partnership agreement that will see similar events and programmes introduced across the country. The partnership aims to give children in care and young offenders unique insights and experiences, and inspire them to make positive life choices.