We kick started the year under very stressful circumstances when we were advised that we lost our funding, couldn't believe it. I mean I knew that we were at risk of losing our funding however I never thought it would actually happen!!!! It just seemed unthinkable! How was I going to tell my young parents? What would they say? I couldn't even say the words out loud let alone to everyone else!!! What do we do - were just some of the thoughts going through my head!!!
However with my manager and Kariatne behind us It didn't take to long to contact the appropriate people launch a media release and have all my young parents, myself, management and community support services rallying behind us to change the decision. We had senate inquiries, television, radio and internet media releases, letters to the government, local MPs etc... We had to try to make them understand that Talking Realities Young Parent Program is such an important program not only for our young parents but also for the schools we present at. We educate so many students on the realities of parenting and I know we make a difference and help. As for the young parents that engage in the program I knew they would be devastated that the program would no longer be running! Telling the girls we lost our funding was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in this job, there were tears!!!!!
Then I got the news that we were lucky enough to have a private donor support our program for an extra year whilst we sourced funding, I couldn't believe the kindness and genorosity of this person, how amazing that we literally had someone come to our rescue! I couldn't believe it! This donor literally threw us a lifeline and I will be forever grateful for this. THANK YOU!
And now thanks to everyone involved the Department of Social Services has GRANTED US ANOTHER 2 YEARS OF FUNDING!!!!! I could not be happier!
This program offers young parents such amazing opportunities and I am so grateful that I can continue to be part of that! The young women in this program are such an inspiration and I love seeing them succeed and grow and work towards goals they never even imagined! That's the biggest reward anyone can ask for, THANK YOU to all of you supporting this program through funding and everything else that has been thrown at us this year!!!
Now we are 6 weeks into our new parent training program with 7 amazing new young parents! The training is going really well and I can't wait to see these girls present in schools next year!!
In addition to this we have successfully presented in 24 schools with 2 of these presentations being at juvenile justice, we have had over 450 attendees with more schools booked in!
The Swimming is program is due to start soon and lots of training and info sessions coming up aswell not to mention our amazing excursion at Calmsley Farm in June!!
I'm so glad we have received another 2 years of funding and I can't wait to see what the next 2 years brings!!!
THANKS to all my young parents and supporters xxxx
Bec :)
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