Next month sees the highly successful youth leadership program Max Potential launched for the second year; this time with more schools, coaches and young people involved.
Mingara Recreation Club facilitates the 22-week program, with support this year from Club Toukley RSL. The program will be officially launched by Member for The Entrance, the Hon. Grant McBride at Mingara on 17 March 2009.Club Toukley RSL CEO John Dunne said the club was delighted to be included in this year’s Max Potential program and had already contributed two coaches.
“Our Human Resources manager Deborah Condon and Club Director Ron Marlin are excited to be part of Max Potential this year. They say their involvement is as much about their learning as imparting their knowledge to the students,” Mr Dunne said.
“We are a community-based club and there has been a lot of interest in the program from our staff, board members and customers. The board supported our involvement unanimously.
“Max Potential is a real feel-good project. Our club feels it has a direct impact on improving the wellbeing of the community,” he added.
Mingara piloted Max Potential last year with 12 Tuggerah Lakes College The Entrance Campus students. It has now been extended to all Wyong Shire high schools and colleges and all interested youths aged 16-25 years.
Mingara Sports and Community Coordinator Sarah Russell said the 2009 Max Potential program was set to eclipse last year’s success.
“We have opened up Max Potential to more people after its successful launch in 2008 and we’re looking forward to encouraging more young people to get involved with their community as a result,” Ms Russell said.
There are 15 positions available in 2009, allowing young people to connect with their community and work with a coach who genuinely cares about their future. Coaches came from a variety of backgrounds, including Central Coast businesses, Mingara staff and staff of Mingara-affiliated clubs.
The aim of Max Potential is to encourage young people to focus on the local community and ways they can work to improve it. Each participant chooses a community project to complete during the program, which runs until mid August. Projects completed in 2008 included a holiday workshop “Equipping Kids of Fostering Families”, mural in conjunction with Wyong Community Art Outreach program, musical workshop for disabled children, fundraising for cancer and a Paralympian, and an art workshop for gifted primary school children.
An amazing program!