programme fund

all about the programme fund, what you can use it for and how to apply

back to extra financial help

what is the programme fund?

The programme fund is a $500 annual fund that is available to help young people improve their wellbeing or achieve their education and employment goals.

You can apply to use it to fund something for a young person or pool it to pay for group activities (although the average cost still needs to be recorded against each young person in ART).

who can get it?

The programme fund is available to any young person enrolled in Youth Service.

This includes:

  • Youth Payment
  • Young Parent Payment
  • Young partner
  • Young parent partner
  • NEET. 

you can use the fund to support a young person's...

wellbeing

Here are some examples of things that could help to improve a young person's wellbeing:

  • medical appointments, and treatment or medication that is not covered by the Ministry of Health
  • cell phone top-up cards (as an exception, where there are specific reasons for needing it, such as safety concerns)
  • private counselling services
  • cultural identity / whakapapa courses
  • orthodontic work (not funded through the Ministry of Health)
  • swimming lessons
  • eye tests and glasses
  • gym fees (supported by a medical practitioner)
  • hygiene packages in conjunction with a course (like LSV)
  • emotional or physical confidence programmes or courses to build self-esteem (for example, a confidence building camp).

or employment

Here are some examples of things that could help a young person work towards or gain employment:

  • employment and industry-related certificates, such as site safety, first aid, food safety etc
  • clothing/equipment (that is not supplied by the employer or Transition to Work (TTW))
    • Note: it is a legal requirement for the employer to provide Health and Safety clothing and equipment.
  • work/interview clothes (if they have been declined for TTW)
    • Note: they could also apply to 'Dress for Success'

or education

Here are some examples of things that could help a young person work towards their education goals:

  • courses or activities to support a young person with learning difficulties to gain a qualification
  • development programmes (e.g. speech development)
  • extra tuition or tutoring (not funded by the Ministry of Education)
  • technology device (when compulsory for study)

driver licence test

You might be able to use the programme fund to cover the cost of a driver's licence test.

You will need to explore all available options first. This includes the Driver Licence Support programme or Course Participation Allowance (YP/YPP only). The driver's licence test needs to be linked to the young person's Youth Service plan.

We could consider a learner licence programme but not driving lessons.

Defensive driving course

Neither NZTA nor MSD's Driver License Support programme endorses a defensive driving programme. We will only consider this programme if there are exceptional circumstances such as safety concerns or if the young person lives in a rural area.

what the fund doesn't cover

Here are some examples of things the fund doesn’t cover:

  • costs that are available under hardship payments, such as clothing, school uniforms, school fees,
    cell phone, etc.
    • Note: we may consider the cost if the young person doesn’t meet eligibility for the hardship
      payment if YSSU has declined the application.
  • everyday common costs (e.g. vehicles, legal costs, childcare, food, debts, fines, transport)
  • costs funded by other agencies such as:
    • everyday health and medical costs (e.g. treatment, medication that is covered by the
      Ministry of Health)
    • teacher aides
    • birth certificates.
  • costs related to LSV. (Clothes and sanitary items can be funded through Course Participation
    Allowance.)
  • overseas travel and any other travel-related costs (e.g. hotels/motels, overseas sports trips)

how to apply for the programme fund

You can apply for the programme fund in ART. There's a specific task template that will guide you through the application.

You'll need to provide evidence of costs and clearly explain how the thing you're applying for aligns to the young person's current Youth Service plan.

You can find the template by adding a new ART task under:

  1. Category  Programme costs
  2. Task type Programme costs for approval.

approved, declined, or more information required

When you submit the programme fund task, it will go to your Regional Contracts Manager. They will approve it, decline it or ask for more information.

You'll get the outcome in ART.

if your application for programme fund is declined

Please contact your Regional Contract Manager if you want more information about a declined request for programme fund expenditure.

 

how to check a young person's available programme funds

You can check in ART to see how much a young person has used from their yearly $500 fund, and what it was used for.

In ART:

  1. Go to the Needs tab
  2. Click on View Programme costs

 

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