Will earns the top award at skills camp

Kaitaia teenager Will Davidson receiving his merit award from Chief Petty Officer Andrew Hall.

Kaitaia teenager Will Davidson made every post a winning post at a week-long residential Blue Light life skills camp in Kaipara last month.

He was awarded the top prize, the overall merit award, against strong competition from young people from around the upper North Island.

Blue Light life skills co-ordinator Lynley Tate said the decision was made by camp staff, who saw significant and consistent improvement in his attitude, self-discipline, self-confidence and team work, and noted that he was always respectful to staff and fellow participants.

The programme is run by New Zealand Blue Light in partnership with the police and NZ Defence Force, providing 14 to 17-year-olds with quality life skills and leadership training, specialising in building self-respect, respect for others, working within boundaries, self-care, team work and problem-solving.

Up to 19 courses are staged each year north of Auckland and in Wellington and Christchurch.

Ms Tate said Blue Light had a strong vision of empowering youth, with its programmes and activities designed to reduce the incidence of young people becoming an offender or victim of crime and to encourage better relations between young people, their parents, the police and communities.

- For more information go to www.bluelight.co.nz or call (09) 475-9301 to request a brochure.