Donation ‘mustered up’ for Raise program

Wee Waa’s Cotton Capital Country Music Muster committee has made a $2000 donation to the youth mentoring foundation Raise.

“This is a very generous donation for the program,” said Raise program counsellor Anna Dugdale who thanked the committee at a cheque presentation held last week.

Raise runs one of its well-regarded, mentoring programs at Wee Waa High School and the money will help support the initiative in 2020.

It also runs a mentoring program at Narrabri High School.

“This donation can go towards things such as the morning teas, they are a huge factor in bringing our mentors and mentees together,” said Anna.

This is the third year the Muster committee has backed Raise by donating money raised at its annual music event, and the Cotton Capital Music Muster is set to be held again in October 2020.

“We wanted to raise money for mental health but it was important for us that the money stay in town,” said Muster committee member Dennis Lowder.

Raise’s school mentoring program is run throughout Australia and aims to empower young people by making them more ‘resilient, capable and connected’.

The program matches mentors (local volunteers) with students.

The mentor then spends two hours per week listening, supporting and guiding the student.

At WWHS, the program takes place on a Tuesday morning and Raise is looking for volunteers for this year.

Central to the program’s success and planning is the belief that early intervention and the presence of a single caring adult, not necessarily a parent, is the ‘biggest predicator of positive mental health outcomes for young people’.

For the past decade, Raise has delivered youth mentoring programs to 5,424 young people across Australia.

And the program has produced significant outcomes with noticeable improvements in students’ confidence levels, coping mechanisms and goal setting abilities.

“It helps young people realise that there’s more out there and that if they really put their minds to something, they can do it,” added Muster committee member Letitia Lowder.

If you’re interested in becoming a Raise mentor at Narrabri or Wee Waa High School please register by February 28, by visiting www.raise.org.au or contact [email protected]