A hands-on mentoring program is helping at-risk young people in Kurri Kurri to realise their potential through refurbishing recycled bikes and skateboards for local disadvantaged families.
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Wheels for Hope has begun operating at Kurri Kurri Public School, thanks to the volunteers from the Centre for Hope, and a grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.
Centre for Hope CEO Geraldine Moran said Wheels for Hope had operated in Windale for the past two years and due to its success was being rolled out in Kurri Kurri and Raymond Terrace.
“The Wheels for Hope program empowers local youth identified by schools or police or youth workers as being at risk of committing crime, disengaging from school or are living with a social disadvantage to learn practical skills and work collaboratively as active members of the community,” Ms Moran said.
“We’ve seen fantastic results through the program at Windale – our participants are engaged in the wider community, have better attendance rates at school and are more focused on their education.
“We also believe that the program has helped prevent anti-social behaviour because our participants are playing an active role in supporting their community.”
The $50,500 grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation allowed Wheels for Hope to build a new bike shed in Kurri Kurri and Raymond Terrace and buy tools and equipment for each area.
Foundation chairman Michael Slater said the program focused on engaging, supporting and mentoring young people to provide better long-term outcomes for them and their community.
“It’s great to see an engaging youth mentoring program which has proven to provide benefits within its local community, whether that be reducing levels of school absenteeism, suspension and truancy, or more serious issues of substance abuse and crime,” he said.
“The Wheels for Hope program builds ongoing relationships between students, parents, schools and the boarder community, which is invaluable social infrastructure.
“This program is an innovative, interesting and practical project to connect with and mentor young people and we are excited to see the results.
“We have confidence that the program will instil hope and positivity into the young members of our community.”
