Banksia Gardens Community Services has hit the brakes on a crucial initiative that empowered several young people in the area to obtain their driver’s licence.
The charity kick-started its 21 Plus program in January this year to address a significant gap which prevented adults aged 21 to 25 from getting behind the wheel.
According to the organisation, a number of participants identified lack of access to a car or supervising driver, absence of identity documents, literacy, IT issues, language-related hurdles and the inability to afford driving lessons as major barriers.
In response to these issues, the community centre established 21 Plus – which in the short time it has been operating, has produced significant achievements.
Nineteen people, including three young parents and two newly arrived refugees, have successfully obtained their licence; a further 13 are due to sit the driving test in the coming weeks; and 35 others have benefited from the program’s tertiary offerings.
“I wouldn’t have gotten my license without 21 Plus. I can now drive my family where they need to go and feel confident doing it,” participant Teish Russell said.
However despite its success, due to depleting funding reserves the centre has shut the program down.
“It has been such a pleasure to deliver this program to our local community,” 21 Plus co-ordinator Saida Nur said.
“We will explore other funding opportunities in the future in the hope that we can sustain this project in the long term. For now, it has come to an end.”
