Engaging the youth

A new location on Fairway Street for Avon Community Services Narrogin will lead to more engagement programs for youth in the community.

Officially opening last Tuesday, the Fairway Street centre boasts added facilities, including a shed out the back and a modern kitchen inside, which has attracted more children since the move from Egerton Street.

Avon Community Services Narrogin’s Mandy Richardson said the hands-on activities the centre’s shed could host were key to her decision to choose the Fairway Street property.

“We were looking for a shed for the youth. Mainly I wanted to do more industrial sort of programs with the boys and girls,” she said.

“There’s a lot more property — we can get them outside and off their phones.

“It’s been good for kids with social anxiety. It’s (the centre) got a few different rooms that they can go off into, find their own little space while still getting them out of home.”

A six-week leadership program will kick-off today for youth aged 12-25, which will touch on first aid, legal aid, and mental and sexual health before wrapping up with a camp at Dryandra organised by the participants.

The kitchen at the Fairway Street property has also enabled the service to introduce more youth cooking and nutrition sessions. Footballs, a new basketball hoop, two computers and 20 bikes courtesy of the Shire of Narrogin have also been added to the centre, adding to the appeal of the services for children in town, according to Ms Richardson

“We’re getting between 20 and 30 kids every afternoonwe use to get 15 to 20 kids,” she said.