Funding for five Salvation Army Services in Morley and Balga

21/3/96

Family and Children's Services Minister Cheryl Edwardes announced today funding for five Salvation Army Services in Morley and Balga worth $250,000 for the next two years.

Mrs Edwardes said an agreement had been signed with Family and Children's Services which guaranteed the Salvation Army services a total of $170,597 a year until mid-1998.

"This means the Salvation Army can make valuable long-term plans that will benefit people in Morley and Balga," the Minister said.

Mrs Edwardes said the Morley Youth Services offered life skills development and the means to deal with or prevent crises that may affect young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years.

"The centre will help young people manage their lives more positively," she said.

"Young people need to develop self-esteem and confidence and also to improve their relationships with their peers and families, where possible.

"There will be informal advice and counselling available and they can enjoy a variety of recreational and other activities.

"Young people can also be put in touch with local services which will help them cope with the challenges of daily life."

Other Salvation Army services to receive funding were the Morley Family Support and Development Services, the Balga Family Support Program and Financial Counselling Programs in both Balga and Morley.

"All offer a variety of options for families and individuals which include assisting them cope with their lives in a positive and effective way and managing money,"Mrs Edwardes said.

"There will be help for those who may need to learn parenting skills, such as counselling and support which will help families avoid a crisis or breakdown.

"They will also assist people develop new community groups and links and put them in touch with local services.

"There will be practical assistance as well where people can learn new skills through group education."

Financial counselling will give families and groups who are suffering financial hardship the means to help them become independent.

"They will be offered skills, knowledge, education and a variety of options that will help them make the most of their money," Mrs Edwardes said.

"They can then plan their income in a positive way and make sensible decisions."

Mrs Edwardes said she believed the agreement marked the start of a good relationship which would benefit the local community.

"This funding will enable the agency to provide programs and courses to meet the needs of local residents."

The services are as follows: + Morley Youth Services - $12,116 for life skills development for young people between 12 and 25 years. + Morley Family Support and Development Services - $19,083 for helping families and individuals cope with their lives in a positive way. + Morley Financial Counselling - $39,941 to help families and individuals manage their finances well. + Balga Family Support Program - $59,516 for helping families and individuals cope with their lives in a positive way. + Balga Financial Counselling - $39,941 for helping families and individuals manage their finances well.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777