Whanganui has a new advocate to assist young people in navigating their way from school to training and employment.
Jason Shailer is the coordinator of the 100% SWEET initiative launched in Whanganui by Mayor Annette Main in 2014.
Statistics for the Whanganui region are not too flash and there are 270 youth under 20 registered as NEET (Not in employment, education or training).
When young people were consulted about the project to reduce the number of NEET youth a Whanganui City College student came up with the name - 100% Sweet (Students in Wanganui, in Education, Employment and Training).
The aim of the project has been to bring local business, government agencies and educators together to help young people become happy, prosperous members of the local community.