In 2 Life

RUSH Youth Mentoring Program

In 2 Life is an independent non-profit organisation operating an early intervention mentoring and life skills program for troubled and vulnerable young people aged 12-16, who are experiencing significant difficulties at home, school and in their local community.  In 2 Life successfully provides a vital school-based mentoring program to assist young people overcome personal crisis and negative life experiences.  In 2 Life utilises the services of local volunteers (employed and retired) with skills and experience from a range of industries to act as mentors to these at risk young people.  In 2 Life currently run youth mentoring programs at 2 local high schools, Belmont High School and Whitebridge High School.

The RUSH Youth Mentoring program targets young people aged between 12-16, identified by local high schools as being "at risk" of things such as low self-esteem, bullying, early school leaving, self-harm and alcohol and drug abuse. Mentors work with these identified young people incorporating a range of strategies including referral, support, information, education and constructive recreational activities.  Parents are fully informed and involved in these activities and the focus of the program is on early intervention. 

The ultimate goal of this program is to provide the necessary skills to these young people to allow them to make appropriate life choices that minimise harm, provide positive alternatives and enhance their long term life opportunities.

Funds were sought to establish a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of youth mentoring, recruit additional community volunteers, expand the program into 10 additional schools in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area and raise the profile of the RUSH program within the broader community

This campaign will include the establishment of a youth mentoring website, television advertising program, newspaper advertisements, program of seminars for interested volunteers, direct mail activities to schools throughout the region.