Training wheels win prize
The ability to build strong relationships with youth and re-engage them in education earned Dismantle the inaugural Local Hero Award at last week's Bridging the Gap awards ceremony.
The honour was open to any individual or organisation which epitomised BTG's values of helping people engage with training to enable them to enter the workforce, regardless of their background.
Program co-ordinator Lou Carey said for the past two years, the Bike Rescue Partnership Program helped 60 people aged 16 or 17 learn how to restore rusted bikes to life and gain a Certificate I in Work Preparation (Community Work), fixing one for charity and another for themselves.
Ms Carey said most participants disengaged from education because school was either no longer an option due to family issues or was not a good fit.
"Six months after the program, 75 per cent of participants have engaged in training or work," she said.
Ms Carey said she loved her job as it was "a great blend of face-to-face youth work and research into youth trends".
Fellow award recipient and bike rescue participant Jadye Holister, 18, was surprised to take home the David Nelson Youth Award last week.
At 14, Miss Holister, of Mandurah, was kicked out of home and couch surfed at friends' houses for about a year.
She then found Calvary House and returned to school but struggled, dropped out and turned to Centrelink, which referred her to Dismantle.
"It was good because they actually care and want to help you progress in life," she said.
"Everyone was from a different background and we forged a family."
Miss Holister said winning the award proved how hard she worked to turn her life around, managing to secure a job and rebuild the relationship with her family.
"I wanted to change, my self-esteem was low and I knew I needed to improve," she said.
"I feel good knowing I was worthy of this and that someone was proud of my work."
