Southern Ports supports the Albany Youth Support Association and will be able to expand its delivery of a popular program targeting health and wellbeing.
The organisation was awarded funding in the second round of the port’s authority’s 2024-2025 Community Investment Program so it can buy a sea container for storage.
“Albany Youth Support Association has a long, proven record of delivering programs that benefit young members of our community in a variety of ways,” says Southern Port Regional Manager, Albany Paul McSweeney.
The Albany Youth Support Association delivered a 12-week health and wellbeing program last year and has since received multiple enquiries about running it on an ongoing basis.
A dedicated exercise space is needed to establish an ongoing program, according to Ian Clarke, CEO of Albany Youth Support Group.
“We’ve been using a large garage as storage – once we transfer what is in the garage into our sea container, we can set up space for our health and wellbeing program,” says Clarke.
To thank Southern Port for their support of the program, the youth group will reserve a special place on the container’s mural to acknowledge that support.
“The program is fun, interactive, educational and can be catered to young people from diverse backgrounds. It is something we are excited to offer as widely as possible,” Clarke added.
Albany Youth Support was one of the 14 successful applicants from the Great Southern region sharing more than $37,000 in round two of the Southern Ports Community Investment program.
Across its three regions, more than $125,000 was awarded to 43 community groups and not-for-profit organisations during the round.
Applications for the next round of Southern Ports Community Investment Program are open until 7 March.