A programme which has young offenders working for the Waitaki community has received a major boost with a $20,000 grant from the Perry Foundation.
However, the Waitaki Clean Up programme still needs more funding to complete another year in the community.
The programme was introduced to Waitaki in 2006. Last year, 62 young offenders completed 2666 hours of service to the community, supervised by youth worker Dayle Fraser.
The unique programme is also attracting attention from other areas because of its approach.
It was developed in response to a high number of young people committing offences, such as vandalism and graffiti, against the local community.
Under the programme, youth who have offended against the community are given tasks such as sweeping and water-blasting streets, picking up litter and glass, removing graffiti and painting and repairing council and public property.
Community safety officer Alison Banks said the grant from the Perry Foundation was a huge boost to the programme.
"It will go a long way towards keeping the programme going for another year."
The programme was waiting to hear if one more funding application had been approved. If so, it would be fully funded for another year.
Funding options through Government organisations were being investigated, but other funding was required to keep the programme going in the meantime.
The Waitaki District Council, Work and Income New Zealand and the Community Trust of Otago also provided support for the programme.
Oamaru police Constable Ross Lory said the programme had been an effective way of making young offenders accountable to the community against which they offended.
