Funds flow to youth service

MARCH 23, 2016: FUNDING for a vital youth service in Mackay is secure for a further two years.YIRS One Stop Youth Shop was granted just under $200,000 to continue their vital support work with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.YIRS has a great track record of working with young people and their families who really need support on a whole range of issues such as mental health, substance abuse, relationship breakdowns and homelessness.The service was in danger of missing out on funding, but after making personal representations to the Minister for Social Services and highlighting the significance of the work they do in our community with both indigenous and non-indigenous young people, funding for another two years, through to June 2017, was secured.YIRS was provided with $193,648 to continue their service delivery for 12 to 25 year olds in Mackay.I visited the YIRS One Stop Youth Shop’s lunchtime barbecue today to congratulate service manager Astrid Steiner and her team, including Travis Phillips and Gilbert Currie, on their efforts.I have the greatest admiration for this group which does the hard yards, often in very sad and difficult circumstances, to help young people turn their lives around.They are to be congratulated on their efforts and I was happy to go into bat to make sure they had the funding they needed.