YOUNG people in Newcastle will have better access to support and services thanks to the latest addition to Wesley Mission Newcastle's outreach program, a state-of-the-art street van.
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With a barbecue and an LED television screen on board, the van will be used to visit various "hot spots" to target youth who do not normally get in touch with mainstream youth services.
Wesley Mission Newcastle chief executive Reverend Keith Garner said the Street Smart program provided access to information, education, intensive support and counselling in the areas of homelessness, alcohol and other drugs abuse, family breakdown and mental health.
"The van will take the Street Smart service to where young people are at," Dr Garner said.
"The service will be meeting young people on familiar ground in a non-threatening and culturally relevant way which conveys that they are valued and accepted."
During the past year, 1200 young people made contact with Street Smart, he said.
The program is co-ordinated by youth outreach worker Christie O'Leary with the help of 12 volunteers and works closely with police and other services with a focus on harm minimisation.
Gabriel Wingate-Pearse
