Media Release -  Open Day for Local Youth Mentoring Program

March 23 2011

As part of National Youth Week activities a local youth mentoring program, ‘The Father’s Farm’ will be open to the community on Wednesday 6 April.

Lutheran Community Care, in partnership with Inner North Country Health Services, launched the Youth Mentoring Capable and Confident (YMC2) Program in 2010. Since then, close to 40 young people aged 12-25 years have engaged with caring, volunteer mentors through taking part in a range of group activities.

Mentoring sessions are offered on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons during school terms, and include recycling, wood work, metal work, automotive, gardening, cooking and tutoring activities. The YMC2 Program also includes school holiday activities.

‘The Open Day will be a great way to showcase the program’, says YMC2 Coordinator Rose Hegarty. Activities will occur as normal, but the afternoon break will include a sausage sizzle and some fun games. Information sessions and tours will run every hour so that visitors can view the facilities, meet the youth and see the program in action. We hope that people will come along to support the youth and learn about the benefits for young people who participate in these types of programs, particularly in the area of building confidence and self-esteem.’

The Father’s Farm will be open to the public on Wednesday 6 April from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Look for the sign at the entrance to a small vineyard property located on Smythe Road, Tanunda.

For further information, please contact Rose Hegarty at Lutheran Community Care on (08) 8562 2688 or rhegarty@lccare.org.au.

Media Release - October 2010

Rose Hegarty has been appointed as Lutheran Community Care's Coordinator of a new youth mentoring program in the Barossa and is in urgent need of volunteer mentors.

'The program is about linking disengaged young people, in the 12-25 year aged group, with adult volunteer mentors who work with them on a range of group activities. Wood work, metal work, craft, art, cooking, sewing, gardening, and vineyard work are just some of the activities on offer' says Ms Hegarty.

'By identifying young people’s interests and what they are good at, we present them with new experiences and opportunities that appeal to them and help them re-engage with education, training and/or employment.

There are significant benefits for young people who participate in these types of programs, particularly in the area of building confidence and self-esteem.

Several different group activities will run concurrently for 2-3 hours per week during school terms, mostly onsite at the Father's Farm near Tanunda,' says Ms Hegarty.

A Fatherhood worker from Inner North Community Health Service has already started a recycling activity at the Father's Farm where boys work alongside LCC volunteer mentors recycling components of donated whitegoods and other items.

Other LCC volunteer mentors are helping with cooking and tutoring activities.

Ms Hegarty wrapped it up by saying, 'Through community support, we hope that these boys might become better equipped to make positive life choices that empower them to be the best they can be'.

The Youth Mentoring Capable and Confident (YMC2) Program is run by Lutheran Community Care (LCC) in collaboration with Inner North Community Health Services.

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of young people in the Barossa Region, please contact Rose Hegarty at Lutheran Community Care on (08) 8562 2688.

Media contact: Wendy Schultz, Senior Communications Specialist

Telephone: 08 8269 9333 Mobile 0401 122343 Email: wschultz@lccare.org.au