Sea storage helps youth health and wellbeing program expansion

Albany Youth Support Association will be able to expand its delivery of a popular program targeting health and wellbeing thanks to the support of Southern Ports.

The youth-focused organisation was awarded funding in the second round of the port authority’s 2024-25 Community Investment Program so it can buy a sea container for storage.

Southern Ports Regional Manager – Albany Paul McSweeney said groups like Albany Youth Support Association played important roles in regional communities.

“Albany Youth Support Association has a long, proven record of delivering programs that benefit young members of our community in a variety of ways,” Mr McSweeney said.

“Creating strong regional communities is important to us, which is why we’re helping to deliver this health and wellbeing program by freeing up space which will provide more opportunities for youth to excel, and likely to have a positive flow-on effect across our region.”

After delivering a 12-week health and wellbeing program last year, Albany Youth Support Association received multiple enquiries about running it on an ongoing basis.

Albany Youth Support Association Chief Executive Officer Ian Clarke said a dedicated exercise space was needed to establish it as an ongoing program, which will be accomplished by creating additional storage. 

“We’ve been using a large garage as storage – once we transfer what is in the garage into our sea container, we can set up space for our health and wellbeing program,” Mr Clarke said.

“The program is fun, interactive, educational and can be catered to young people from diverse backgrounds. It is something we are excited to offer as widely as possible.

“We’re thankful for the support Southern Ports has thrown behind this endeavour and we’ll reserve a special place on the container’s mural to acknowledge that support.”

Albany Youth Support Association was one of the 14 successful applicants from the Great Southern region sharing more than $37,000 in round two of the 2024-25 Southern Ports Community Investment Program.

Across its three regions more than $125,000 was awarded to 43 community groups and not-for-profit organisation’s during the round.

Applications for the next round of Southern Ports Community Investment Program are open until 7 March.

For more information and to apply visit the Southern Ports website - southernports.com.au/corporate/community-investment-program.