YMCA Victoria and the Carlton Football Club are working together to help raise money to provide disadvantaged young people at the Carlton Primary School with the opportunity to participate in a youth mentoring program.

While many young people at Carlton Primary have supportive families, they have parents who are dealing with high levels of trauma, life in a new country, the challenges of navigating life without English as a first language, and little money.

With the support of the Carlton Football Club, YMCA Victoria would like to raise some much-needed funds to train a number of mentors and provide a youth mentoring program to disadvantaged young people in the Carlton community. 

Through the program, the young people involved will not only receive valuable one-on-one support from a mentor, but practical support with things like social problems and even homework. And there is already a line of people waiting to be trained, including a number of Carlton Football Club staff and players.

Carlton footballer Nick Duigan is an avid supporter of the program and can’t wait to get involved and help out.

“This program provides a unique learning opportunity separate to that of a teacher, social worker, counsellor. The informal and voluntary nature of the role allows for genuine relationships to be formed whereby skills and learning can be diffused naturally both for the mentor and mentee," Duigan said.

"The Carlton Football Club and YMCA are hoping to create an environment of connection and inspiration with the young people in Carlton and allow the transfer of learning between people from different backgrounds and experiences.”

Funds raised will also support sustainability of the program in being able to train key staff within the school to be able to recruit and train and match mentors on an ongoing basis.

Help a young person in Carlton today by:

Placing an auction bid via the Carlton’s Football Club website to win your child the chance to run out with the team at the Round 6 Carlton vs. Melbourne game on Sunday 5th May 2013 at the MCG! Your family will also experience:

•    The opportunity for one child to be the team mascot includes running out with the team prior to a game (child must be aged between 5 – 12)

•    Visit the rooms before the game (4 passes)

•    Reserved seats (4 reserved seats)

•    Receive a Carlton Football Club jumper to wear on the ground.

Alternatively, you can make a donation online to the campaign (select YMCA Victoria as location).