TYLA - Turn Your Life Around

Being young isn't always easy and we all know that some kids go off the rails.

Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) helps at-risk intermediate students who are heading down the wrong path. TYLA targets young people who are having problems with behaviour, truancy or minor offending.

The five-year programme follows a three-step process.

In the first eight weeks of school, social workers and teachers identify students who would benefit from the programme.

Invited young people then go on a one-week team-building camp where TYLA introduces the young people to community projects, sport and role models.

Role models and mentors such as Paul Holmes, Eroni Clarke, Clint Brown and Wynton Rufer help young people to set goals and believe that anything is possible.

This is followed up by a 12-month period of weekly contact to support goal-setting, motivation and continuation of good habits.

Successful graduates are asked to become TYLA leaders after three or four years.

An important part of TYLA is the use of other agencies to help to solve underlying problems in the home.

The TYLA Trust is a police-initiated programme set up in 1996 by Constable Tania Eden. To date, TYLA has had over 200 graduates.

For further information visit TYLA or phone Constable Phil Crowley on 09-820 5711.

Herald features

Our turn

The jobs challenge

Common core values

href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=57032">Catching the knowledge wave | Official site