By Belinda Nolan
THOUSANDS of struggling youths have sought help from Sunshine’s Visy Cares Hub over the past year.
Statistics provided to Star reveal almost 8000 young people contacted the youth service for help with drug and alcohol addictions, criminal activity, homelessness and other social problems in 2010, a 42 per cent jump over the past two years.
Based behind the Sunshine Library in Harvester Rd, Visy Cares Hub brings together 10 different agencies under one roof, and is a one-stop-shop for young people from 12-25 years of age.
Of the 8000 walking through the centre’s door, 49 per cent were from Brimbank, 15 per cent from neighbouring Maribyrnong, 12 per cent from Wyndham, 11 per cent from Melton and 9 per cent from Hobsons Bay.
Alarmingly, four per cent were homeless or displaced.
Visy Cares Hub general manager Karen Hart told Star the figures demonstrated a growing need for more youth services in the area.
Ms Hart said some suburbs within the West like Sunshine were becoming gentrified, placing increasing pressure on disadvantaged young people.
“While we’re based in Brimbank, our figures indicate that we’re getting a significant proportion of young people who are willing to travel from outside of the municipality to access our services, because they can’t access them in their own areas,” Ms Hart said.
Ms Hart said the growing demand was placing increasing pressure on the centre’s resources, with more funding needed to cater for future growth.
A large proportion of Visy Cares Hub’s funding comes from philanthropy and fundraising, Ms Hart said.
On Friday, Visy Cares Hub held a fundraising breakfast to raise money for its programs as part of International Youth Day.
Ms Hart said the centre’s programs had enjoyed great success and were turning troubled lives around.
“It’s really rewarding work,” Ms Hart said.
“We have some wonderful case studies of young people, who came to us two or three years ago with no confidence, who couldn’t see any brightness on the horizon who are now completely different people.
“And none of this would be possible without the generosity of the community.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Visy Cares Hub can call 9091 8200.
