01 Sep We’re INSPIRED By Project Youth
Congratulations to Project Youth for continuing the INSPIRE youth mentoring program. Using grant funding from Big Sister, Project Youth this year relaunched this valuable program and has currently matched 10 young at-risk women with community mentors. Recruiting and training continues for an additional 13 mentors to work with many other referrals on their books. These young women all have complex and varied needs, often inclusive of mental health, family and relationship issues, self-harm, substance use and risky behaviours. Outcomes from this program continue to be positive, including two clients who had previously disengaged from school in year 8 now studying certificate II courses at TAFE. Good luck to everyone involved in the program for rest of the year.
INSPIRE (Innovative Non-Judgmental Support Program Intended to Re-Engage) is an evidenced-based youth mentoring program for young people at risk. The aim is to provide one on one individualised support and guidance to young people, who have had contact with community services or the criminal justice system and who may not otherwise have the support and guidance required to make well-informed, positive decisions about their future. The program matches a suitable community mentor with a young person for a period of 12 months offering individualised support and guidance, whilst also re-engaging them in their community and developing feelings of community connectedness.