Grant District Council is currently recruiting volunteers to join its Youth on Wheels Program as mentor drivers.

The program aims to assist young people aged 16-25, who live in the council areas within the Grant and Mount Gambier region, to gain the required driving hours to obtain their P1 drivers licence.

The program assists young people that do not have access to a supervising driver or vehicle to enable them to gain their drivers licence.

Since gaining their P1 licences, some of the participants have been able to secure employment and/or travel for education which may not have been possible if it were not for Youth on Wheels.

Gaining a drivers licence also promotes independence and gives young people a sense of achievement and pride.

Undertaking the role of a mentor with Youth on Wheels provides the opportunity to be a positive role model and offer guidance to assist young people to be safer more experienced drivers.

Deputy Mayor Gill Clayfield is urging anyone over the age of 25, with a full driver’s licence and working with children’s check, to spare two hours a week for the program

“Volunteers are at the heart of Youth on Wheels and without them the program could not function,” she said.

“Our long-standing mentors, such as Kevin who volunteered over 700 hours with the program, are a testament to its value, and we now need more mentors to continue this great youth program.”