Kaitaia teenager tops the class at Blue Light

Cameron Foster (left) receiving his outstanding team member award from Blue Light programmes co-ordinator Benjamin Pollard.

Kaitaia teenager Cameron Foster excelled at the latest Blue Light leadership course at Wairakei, outside Taupo, earlier this month, winning the Peer Choice — Outstanding Team Member award against strong competition from young people from around the North Island.

Blue Light programmes co-ordinator Benjamin Pollard said 15-year-old Cameron had been chosen by his peers as a great overall team member, helpful, encouraging, kind and excelling in all ways, always respectful to staff and fellow course members, and ultimately the person they would love to have in their team.

The programme, run by New Zealand Blue Light in partnership with the police and NZ Defence Force, gives 14 to 17-year-olds a week-long residential experience focusing on delivering quality life-skills, leadership skills and training, specialising in building self-respect, respect for others, working within boundaries, self-care, teamwork and problem-solving.

"Blue Light has a strong vision of empowering youth," said Senior Constable Rowena Jones (Kaitaia), who nominated Cameron.

"All Blue Light programmes and activities are designed to reduce the incidence of young people being an offender or victim of crime, and to encourage better relations between young people, their parents, the police and communities we live in."

New Zealand Blue Light was a registered charity and community policing youth programme that for the past 30 years had run youth programmes and activities throughout New Zealand, the aim being to reduce youth crime, build community partnerships, build young people's self-esteem, enhance community safety, and build positive youth and police partnerships.

It was a nationwide incorporated society, with a national executive committee, that operated 74 branches nationwide, each being responsible for sourcing its own funding to facilitate and provide their own youth community programmes.

"Blue Light is supported by police officers, who carry out Blue Light activities over and above their normal police duties, along with civilian volunteers," she added. "Those involved with Blue Light are passionate about youth and in particular providing positive experiences for those who may otherwise not have an opportunity."

Although Blue Light was supported by police, the two operated totally independently and it did not receive any funding from police, but it did have a corporate sponsor, AA Insurance.

Blue Light originated in Australia as a community policing initiative, and remained very strong in all the Australian States. It was also active in the Solomon Islands, East Timor, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Scotland.

For more information about the Blue Light life skills and leadership courses go to www.bluelight.co.nz or phone (09) 475 9301.