The 111 Files: Cactus life-changing for some

The Cactus programme challenges young people to be aspirational. Photo / File

Over the past few weeks, I have been writing about some of the great initiatives that are up and running in our community to make it safer.

In 2011, Rotorua police launched the Cactus programme. Cactus is an eight-week programme that challenges young people to set some aspirational goals - and achieve them. Many of the young people who engage in this programme find it life-changing.

A number of police officers have volunteered in their personal time to support Cactus courses.

Some, such as Sergeant Steve Sutton, have been involved in almost every Cactus course during the past four years.

Although police have an important leadership role in the programme, its overall success relies on the support of local businesses, community groups, parents and schools.

The success of Cactus in Rotorua has now seen it being picked up in other areas in the Bay of Plenty.

Something that everyone who is involved in Cactus finds tremendously satisfying is the wonderful sense of community and camaraderie that is characteristic of every Cactus event.

Let's face it, everyone loves to be part of something that is successful; and the sense of achievement that everyone feels at the end of the final day of the course - appropriately named "the longest day" - is something very special.

But, most importantly, Cactus is making a difference for young Rotorua people. Course leaders track the progress of the students who attend.

Almost without exception, the young people who attend go on to achieve the goals they set for themselves. Some begin the course with little aspiration or sense of the potential that resides within them.

The Cactus programme opens their minds to new possibilities and, as a result, several young Rotorua people are now living completely different lives to anything they dared to imagine a few years ago.

An additional benefit has been the building of a sense of community and strengthening the relationships between police, schools and the wider community.

Cactus is a great programme, but in order to keep this programme running, let alone expand it in our community - we need your support.

The next two Cactus courses have been programmed for the second school term of 2014. One is being run in partnership with Rotorua Girls' High School, the other with Reporoa College.

-If you are keen to support either of these programmes, please contact Constable Pete Riordan (for RGHS) or Senior Constable Jude Clifton (Reporoa College programme) at the Rotorua Police station 07348 0099. Or email Pete at Peter.Riordan@police.govt.nz or Jude at Judy.Clifton@police.govt.nz