Youth Minister Dave Kelly today presented Perth Inner City Youth Services with a Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund grant of $61,758 to support the important work it does with young people.
Perth Inner City Youth Services works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged between 15 and 25.
They provide a range of important services including medium to long term supported accommodation for at-risk young people aged between 16 and 25, as well as delivering support programs for young people aged between 15 and 20 who have a diagnosed mental health condition.
Perth Inner City Youth Services also operates ‘drop-in’ spaces for young people and support programs specifically for trans and gender diverse young people who are experiencing homelessness and disconnection from family.
The grant from the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund will assist Perth Inner City Youth Services with the operational expenses of providing these important services, such as information and communications technology, office rental and vehicles.
As part of the McGowan Government’s youth-focused COVID-19 recovery package, the Mental Health Commission has also provided $395,000 of funding for Perth Inner City Youth Services to expand its existing PILLAR youth mental health service from a capacity of 15 to 40 young people.
As stated by Youth Minister Dave Kelly:
“Young people in Western Australia have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the McGowan Government has invested in their recovery through a range of youth-focused measures.
“Organisations like Perth Inner City Youth Services are a vital part of the community services sector, and play a crucial role in helping build safe and inclusive communities for young people during the pandemic.
“Grants from the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund are helping ensure important support services are available to young people who are experiencing mental health challenges as well as homelessness and disconnection from families at a time when social isolating and distancing is having an enormous impact on their lives.
“Many young people are experiencing higher needs than others and I thank Perth Inner City Youth Services for its commitment and dedication to helping some of the most vulnerable members of the community for over thirty years.”
