Thank you from Whitelion CEO
Dec 23, 2019
Thank you to each and every one of you across Australia united in our Whitelion community of support, for your contribution to a huge 12 months of transformation and renewal.
In early December we celebrated the launch of Whitelion’s new strategy, Strategy 2023: A New Beginning. You can read more about S2023 in this edition of Roar. The launch was a moment of reflection, celebration and thanks to every program, staff member, volunteer, supporter and young person who carried Whitelion through the past 20 years to this point. The most significant figure in that journey is Mark Watt, who co-founded the organisation with Glenn Manton, and was our founding CEO until my appointment in 2018. Mark leaves Whitelion this year as a lifelong friend of Whitelion and ambassador for supporting youth at risk.
Significant change occurred this year as a result of our resolve to focus Whitelion on where we could have the greatest impact for highly vulnerable, high risk young people as well as be a sustainable organisation. This resulted in the difficult decision to close our Tasmanian operations, and transfer our prevention program Stride and Victorian social enterprises Fruit2Work, PAWS and Wheelly Good Coffee to new providers. Words alone are not enough to describe the life changing impact our Tasmanian staff, volunteers and supporters had over the past 17 years and we once again offer them our deepest thanks. We know our Victorian social enterprise and prevention programs will flourish in the future under the leadership of the new providers and encourage you to visit Big Brother Big Sister Australia-In2Life, Fruit2Work and Social Engine if you want to learn more.
The personal highlight for me this year has been the times I’ve spent directly with young people we support such as the National Youth Camp, going on the Chatterbox bus, listening to stories and simply being young people’s company. I am in constant awe of their courage, resilience and strength. We are committed to ensuring that work alongside them to deliver on our new strategy. Their voice must be heard – they have the solutions.
This year Whitelion supported 2,394 young people and provided them with assistance to address substance dependence issues, find stable housing and prevent homelessness, improve their personal relationships, connect them mental health supports, or address issues relating to school disconnection, isolation and unemployment. Our mobile outreach services provided 19,904 support episodes to young people we met in high risk situations on the street.
In 2020 our new beginning officially kicks off with our deep focus on building positive connections and pathways to work for at risk young people.
Thank you once again for the support you have offered in 2019 – be it liking a Facebook post, donating to a fundraiser, advice to me personally, support through your organisation, or volunteering directly with a young person. We look forward to an even brighter 2020!
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, happy and healthy festive season.