LARF (Life skills, Activities, Relationships and Fun) mentoring program.

The LARF program is a social skills program for young people (ages 9-16) facing economic and social disadvantage – this includes homelessness, family violence and substance abuse. Participants are matched with a trained young adult volunteer to work alongside them on a range of social activities and provide them with guidance and friendship.

Groups are facilitated weekly.

LARF is trauma informed, strengths based, encouraging healthy relationships and giving vulnerable young people opportunities to participate in activities they might otherwise be excluded from.

The funding being sought will cover activity costs such as Zine making, storytelling through rapping /poetry and drumming.

The LARF program is unique to the Central Highlands region. LARF accepts referrals from the local and wider community and is in high demand; evidenced by full program capacity and a considerable waiting list. Participants can eventually become mentors.

Research has shown that youth mentoring programs strongly support increased self-esteem, improved school attendance and completion and the ability to build and maintain healthy relationships, which in turn benefits the local community by having members of the community with such skills and attributes. The funding would enable the group to participate in activities within the local community in a positive manner.