PEOPLE with a passion for helping others are being asked to give up some of their time to support the area’s younger residents.
Co-founders of The Gap, Bob and Val Turner, are calling on residents to volunteer at the youth drop-in centre, saying a rise in adolescents using the facilities has meant there is now a need for more hands on deck.
Val told Star the centre, which has been running for 18 months, has established quite a large following within the municipality but is still running on the same volunteers it did when it first opened.
“We need to share the load a bit,” she said.
“We have an awesome, strong group, but it’s the same people doing the same thing. “They never complain … but we’re being stretched.”
Val said the centre is after male volunteers in particular to assist with activities like the Boys Night In and boxing gym.
She said men could pass on their “handy man” skills to younger boys who were keen to improve their skills in this area.
However Val did admit that not everyone is cut out to be a volunteer and it takes a special kind of person to help out.
“I don’t think it is for everyone, you have to want to be there for the kids.
“We’re looking for someone who can talk to the kids and not at them.”
She said many of the adolescents gained put great trust in the volunteers and benefited from the structured activities.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Val on 0414 769 605.
