The Advertiser Foundation Blanket Appeal 2024

There’s a special place in Adelaide’s northern suburbs called Hope Street where local young people are given just that, with skills, confidence and self-belief.

Youth Worker Sara Carbone (left) teaches Volunteer Ash Childs the art of coffee making. Picture: Brett Hartwig

There’s a special place in Adelaide’s northern suburbs called Hope Street where local young people are literally given just that, along with skills, confidence and self-belief.

The Davoren Park youth drop-in program is an initiative of not-for-profit CareWorks which has been “giving help and offering hope” to South Australians for almost seven decades.

CareWorks CEO Geoff Payne said it was critical young people were supported and given access to mentors and skills, especially if they struggled to get these at home or school.

“All young people have amazing potential and are worthy of our time and attention (but) sadly they sometimes lack the resources they need to put down a foundation for a great life,” he said.

“Therefore, it’s really important to meet them where they are, provide a safe environment, and provide friendship and support from trusted role models and mentors.”

He said there were “many layers” to the program, including a drop-in centre where kids could “just show up and ride their skateboards, play video games and shoot hoops”.

Youth Worker Sara Carbone, CEO Geoff Payne and Volunteer Ash Childs. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“It is all about relationship building; we host barbecues at the skatepark to allow our volunteers to just ‘hang out’ with the kids, some of whom are broken-hearted or angry, and work through with them how to manage their feelings and behaviours.

“We offer formal mentoring in which the young people meet with a trained youth worker and work through their goals … we try to get kids back into education, if they have stopped going.

“We also have a little cafe and op shop which we use for training … and help them build a resume which will help them get a job.”

For Ash Childs, 18, who left school in year 11 suffering from anxiety, Hope Street has been a place for her to shine and she is now giving back to other young people as a volunteer.

“It means so much that I have a community built around me that will help me and support me through everything,” she said, adding the friendship and mentoring offered by the program’s youth worker, Sara Carbone, had been instrumental to building self-confidence.

“Sara has helped me through a lot … she helps with my mental health and I can’t thank her enough for it.”

Ms Carbone said she was inspired by the young people she helped.

“Young people are filled with so much potential to do incredible things in our community … I want to continue to invest in their lives and what they have to offer,” she said.

As well as the youth program, the non-denominational charity initially established by the Church of Christ community, has sites at Brooklyn Park and Noarlunga, offering people access to everything from free food, blankets and swags to financial counselling and mental health services.

It is one of a number of organisations supported by The Advertiser Foundation Blanket Appeal 2024. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be made here.

Good doctors of Adelaide give dose of compassion

A special group of South Australian medicos is showing how compassion and good bedside manners can extend well beyond hospital wards and medical clinics.

A generous $10,000 donation from the Australian Chinese Medical Association Foundation has bolstered this year's Blanket Appeal. Picture: Dean Martin

A special group of South Australian medicos is showing how compassion and good bedside manners can extend well beyond hospital wards and medical clinics.

During the week the Australian Chinese Medical Association SA (ACMASA), which includes GPs, specialists and medical students, donated $10,000 to this year’s The Advertiser Foundation Blanket Appeal.

The annual appeal, first launched in 1959, raises funds to help the homeless and those at risk of homelessness during winter.

ACMASA chairman Francis Ghan said many of his colleagues were concerned about rising rates of homelessness and also the stories of financial struggle being shared by patients.

“We are seeing so many homeless people in the street and this is very, very sad to see in a first-world country,” Dr Ghan said.

“Being doctors, we see our patients struggling daily with the cost of living, including those on the verge of losing their homes – we see that all the time and really feel for them.

“(Our members) all agree we have to help as much as we can.”

For the past 25 years the association has held an annual gala dinner to raise funds to allow it to support causes which align to its values of caring for vulnerable people, he said.

“It does give us great joy to be able to give something back and see the immense pleasure and joy (that support) can bring to those involved in wonderful not-for-profits such as Hutt St Centre and Catherine House,” Dr Ghan said.

The Hutt St Centre is one of a number of organisations supported by The Advertiser Foundation Blanket Appeal 2024. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be made here.