Change a life from the passenger seat

IF you have a couple of hours to spare each week, and a desire to contribute to your community, the Ballarat Foundation may just have the perfect service opportunity for you.

The organisation coordinates the local L2P Learner Driver program, offering driving lessons to young people who may not otherwise have access to a car to learn in, or a supervising driver.

L2P mentor Helen Bloom said all volunteers need is a licence, driving experience, and a little bit of time, to not only educate a learner from the passenger seat, but to “change their world.”

“The program meets mentors where they are and provides all the support and training that is needed to be successful, and meets the learners where they are, with step-by-step progression,” she said.

“They match the volunteers with a learner driver, and from there, you stay in contact, and arrange to go for a drive with them. It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

“The program’s focus is building driving experience, but during weeks where I’ve spent an hour or so facing forward beside my learner driver, I could see so much personal growth, development and change in my learner.

“While facing forward in the car, I could see how my learner was facing forward to the future from a changed perspective, and with enormously increased optimism.”

Ms Bloom said having a driver’s licence can open doors to education and career opportunities, that may have otherwise been closed.

“My first learner driver is a talented, intelligent, focussed, driven young woman, who aims high and knew that with a licence, university education was within reach,” she said.

“Without a licence, she knew that the daily commute from home to university via childcare each day, and the return trip at the end of each day, was an insurmountable barrier to her pursuing her educational goals.

“I am so impressed with her vision, dedication, and application. She is now pursuing tertiary study, the first in her family to do so.”

Not only do the mentees develop under the guidance of the volunteers, Ms Bloom said she has also gained much from giving her own time.

“It really adds to my sense of wellbeing when I see what these young drivers achieve,” she said.

“Aside from the driving, I feel that I have contributed to their positive self-belief, personal growth, and aspiration.

“It is fabulous to watch the learners, over time, realise the possibilities that have become within reach because of the L2P program.”

Ms Bloom said everything a mentor needs is supplied, and there is no cost to them.

“Fully serviced, maintained and fuelled up cars are provided thanks to the generosity of community sponsors in partnership with the TAC.

“The training we need is provided, with refresher training as needed, and opportunities for networking with other mentors from time to time,” she said.

“The L2P support team is absolutely fantastic. They really look after their mentors and show their genuine appreciation for our contributions.”