A NUMBER of Millicent Community Learning Centre identities will be stripped of their possessions, given prison overalls, fingerprinted and photographed before they spend a cold night behind bars this weekend.
The team will be locked up at the Old Mount Gambier Gaol tomorrow night as part of the Whitelion Bailout fundraising event, which is dedicated to changing the lives of young Australians.
While the event is theatrical and fun, the awareness it generates provides people with the opportunity to step into the shoes of a young person who is disconnected or going through the youth justice system.
Learning centre manager Gemma Winterborn said the centre was proud to support the fundraiser, particularly because all proceeds raised would be put back into the community to support young people.
“We work with support agencies like Whitelion to assist some of our disengaged students that are unable to attend the school,” she said.
“The support provided by the Whitelion outreach case managers is sometimes the only attachment they have to schooling and the case managers work hard to ensure these young people have access to learning.”
A huge number of staff from the centre have jumped on board the cause including Ms Winterborn, Heidi Muhovics, Thea Clough, Heather Cormie, Amy Hateley, Allie Shelton, Bevan White, Mellissa Norman, Jasmine Brain, Brett Loader, Mieka Owens-Phillips, Trish Cory, Nicole Croker and Roz Curtis.
They have worked hard to reach their individual bail fee of $1000, which will ensure their release from prison in the lead up to the event.
As a team they aim to raise $20,000 and are calling on support from local businesses, organisations and community members.
Whitelion is a leading community organisation building relationships and tailoring services for at-risk young people to positively change their lives.
Many young people who Whitelion work with have had some connection with the youth justice system and of these people, a high number are victims of trauma, abuse and neglect, as well as being 12 times more likely than other young people to be in the child protection system.
Donations to bail out the Millicent Community Learning Centre can be made online or by phoning 8733 2400.
