Maniototo Youth Group members will be able to visit other youth groups throughout Otago this year, after the Maniototo Community Board yesterday approved a $1500 grant to the group.
An application was made to the board by youth group secretary Alice Summers highlighting the group's financial concerns.
From May 2008 when the group formed with $7200, until the end of January, its largest single expense had been Central Otago District Council rates totalling $1400 for the nine month period.
An almost equal sum of $1045 marked its electricity bill, and youth group members were concerned funds would be consumed solely by the logistics of meeting every Friday for less than three hours.
As youth were Maniototo's future, board members deemed the group's progress worthy of funding, and allocated $1500 to help meet operational costs of $2700 incurred since May last year.
The board also resolved to make a submission to the CODC, in order for the group to be allocated an annual $1500 through the council's long-term community council plan.
The youth group leases an old shearers' quarters near the Ranfurly Railway Station from the Department of Conservation.
Doc agreed to lease the building rent-free to the group, although it passed on annual rates and all operating and maintenance costs.
When approached by the group, Doc declined to pay the rates, which would have freed up youth group money for education and development programmes.
