Headspace donation supports youth

THE Sporting Motorists Association has made a significant donation to Headspace Ballarat.

Giving $1500, the group made a choice at their annual general meeting in August about what programs they would like to boost.

Headspace Ballarat clinical lead Allison Boucher was present at the AGM and said the Association has decided to evenly split the donation between two initiatives.

“We’re going to use $750 of that donation to look at running a Tuning Into Teens program for parents, to provide parent support. During COVID, they’ve sometimes found it difficult to support their young people,” she said.

“It’s designed to help parents to teach their teenage children how to control, understand and express their emotions in healthy and positive ways, and support parents to manage their own emotions.”

Running more frequently in term four, Tuning Into Teens is a very popular program. The SMA donation has been directed to fund its facilitators.

The other $750 will be used as a Sporting Motorists’ Bursary.

“We have a lot of young people that come through Headspace who, at times, require some material aid.

“The people we work with might need money for prescriptions for their medication, for school supplies, or to get their learner’s permit,” Ms Boucher said.

“We feel really fortunate that we have some money now to support someone in paying for an area of need that they’ve identified.”

Ms Boucher said Headspace Ballarat is grateful to the SMA for their support, which is allowing the mental health agency to provide more support to young people in the community.