Thames-Coromandel District Council has extended the nomination period for its Youth in Emergency Services Programme, which now closes May 8.

YES is designed to strengthen young people's connection to their community by encouraging them to engage with a range of volunteer emergency services through hands-on work in these services.

In order to deliver the programme, council requires a minimum of 15 participants, aged 16-20 years.

Initially, nominations were only open to young people living on the east coast of the Coromandel, however council is now extending the opportunity to young people living in the Thames and Hauraki areas.

Thames Valley Civil Defence manager Helen Flynn says they're a little short on the numbers to get the programme up and running and they need some young people to step forward and volunteer to make this experience happen.

'We don't want to give up on this exciting opportunity just yet and have decided to push back the dates by two weeks to allow more time for nominations.

'Everyone that took part in the programme two years ago had a lot of fun and learnt some great skills. Many went on to volunteer for the Fire Service, St John, and LandSAR after enjoying the experience so much.”

WHY SAY ‘YES' TO YES

TCDC delivers the YES programme in collaboration with the volunteer Fire Services, St John, Land Search and Rescue Thames Valley Civil Defence, Coastguard NZ and Surf Life Saving NZ.

The programme is delivered in two parts – theory and practical work – and each week the emergency service partners participating in YES take it in turns to deliver both components.

Each emergency service will deliver a two hour knowledge and skills sessions teaching participants what that service does and the equipment they use every Thursday night.

Then on the following Sunday, that service will run a four hour practical session which allows participants to use the skills and equipment they learned in the theory sessions.

While the final Sunday of the programme will be a combined exercise with a 'real life' emergency scenario, followed by a graduation ceremony.

Participants will also be expected to volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours at an emergency service organisation of their choice at the conclusion of the programme.

Applications for the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Youth in Emergency Services Programme close at 4pm on Monday, May 8. To download nomination forms, visit www.tcdc.govt.nz/yes

Successful nominees and their nominators will be notified by Monday, May 1.

If you have any questions about the application process or to submit nomination forms email Julie Dennis at: Julie.dennis@tcdc.govt.nz, call 07-865-0072, or email Amber Baker at: amber.baker@tcdc.govt.nz

Coromandel MP with the participants of the 2015 Thames-Coromandel District Council Youth in Emergency Services programme.