Fawkner police donate tools to YMCA ReBuild to help young ex-crims mend their ways
A revolutionary partnership between Fawkner police and the YMCA has seen unclaimed stolen goods equip young ex-offenders with the tools to mend their ways.
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Fawkner police are giving young ex-offenders the tools to mend their ways.
As part of a revolutionary partnership, police have donated thousands of dollars worth of formerly stolen tools and building goods to a program that employs disadvantaged youth, mainly ex-criminals, with the aim of keeping them out of custody.
Since 2010 the YMCA ReBuild project has provided facility maintenance services across suburban Melbourne, including landscaping, painting, plastering and carpentry repairs.
Their client list includes well known brands such as Vicinity shopping centres, Lendlease, Healthscope hospitals, Hume Council and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Since mid-December last year police in Fawkner have donated a large amount of power tools, drop saws, drills and screwdrivers – all stolen goods recovered by police during search warrants and which went unclaimed or couldn’t be reunited with their rightful owners.
Community Engagement Inspector for Moreland, Hume and Moonee Valley, Chris Allen, said the property would otherwise be destroyed or sent to auction.
He said there had been three donations so far.
“The work YMCA ReBuild is doing is priceless,” he said.
“By assisting this project we can actually have an effect on reducing the recidivism rates by getting them engaged in an employment project – it’s really positive for Victoria Police.
“Providing them with mentoring, direction and an employment pathway has a huge effect on their ability to contribute to society and not end up at risk of offending.”
Insp Allen said the Fawkner police station received a “substantial” amount of stolen and unclaimed goods and the property office was always full.
Manager of The Bridge and YMCA ReBuild Gary Sinclair said they didn’t get many donations.
“That’s why we’re so excited by it,” he said.
“Those tools and pieces of construction equipment allows us to not only do what we’re currently doing but also to expand.
“As we expand by winning more work, it means we can give more young people the opportunity to get a job and change their lives.”
Mr Sinclair said only five per cent of participants in the program reoffended within the first six months of their release from jail, compared to 47 per cent of the general population.
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“I don’t think you can underestimate the power of having a job,” he said.
“We also provide a huge amount of wraparound support to help people in all those other things that go with successfully keeping a job, such as assisting them in reconnecting with their family, sporting clubs and religious organisations.”
The program is currently looking to increase their work with clients such as Zoos Victoria, Yarra Valley Water and local councils, as well as maintaining their existing customer base.
“We’re working with them as business partners to help us achieve the joint aims of them meeting their commercial needs and them helping us meet our social needs,” Mr Sinclair said.