Youth Inspire graduated 14 rangatahi from its 10-week employment programme on Thursday night, as youth unemployment for 15-24-year-olds stands at nearly 15%.

The unemployment figure for this age group is roughly three times the rate for the wider working population. Youth Inspire is a charity that helps vulnerable young people gain skills for employment through training in communication, interview techniques and work placements.

Graduate Rikki-Sean Galuvao said he felt more confident and open to talking to people after completing the course. "Before the course I wasn't like, open to talking to people. I was more closed in ... now I'm more open to talking to people, feel more confident," he said.

His mother Mana Gillespie said she noticed her son became more motivated and happy during the programme. "More motivated, getting out of the house, happy about work-experience, outings with the course. I'm proud of him, excited," she said.

Fellow graduate Crystal McGregor said without the programme she would probably be "bumming out". "You have more opportunities around the whole entire world than just where you are at, right now," she said.

The charity operates a driving school for participants and began seeking donations through crowdfunding after its application to Waka Kotahi's Road Safety Fund was unsuccessful. The fund distributed $17 million to 21 applicants from 138 applications in its latest round.

A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said the fund's eligibility criteria changed last year and allocation decisions were based on funding constraints. "There is no remaining funding to allocate," the spokesperson said.

Youth Inspire chief executive Zainab Ali said unlicensed driving charges are typically the entry point for young people into the justice system, despite 70% of jobs requiring a licence. The charity has raised $4000 through crowdfunding, enough to put 40 rangatahi through the driving school.

"Biologically, we know by 25 the brain is fully developed. This is our last chance to intervene and make sure these rangatahi of Aotearoa have beautiful futures or at least the best chance of having a great future and becoming great citizens of New Zealand," Ali said.

More than 4000 young people have completed the programme in almost 13 years. The organisation's waiting list sits at around 150. Ali said the charity continues supporting graduates until they find work, with many in the latest cohort already in jobs.