Around 100 local children and young people will spend this Christmas in Foster Care and at youth refuges and Veritas House is calling on local residents and business to help bring some Christmas cheer to these special young people.

Local Foster Carers, Deb and Gerry Green were today announced recipients of the Deb Elsley Memorial Award by Veritas House as part of their Foster Care Week celebrations. The award acknowledges the significant contribution that Deb and Gerry have made in providing a safe and supportive home environment to more than 13 children and young people over the past five years, and assisting them to grow and develop in a happy and healthy way.

All families know the financial hardship that can come from ensuring children and young people have the resources they need to commence a new school year, but this is particularly difficult for young people who are experiencing homelessness or who have transitioned into independent living and should not be a barrier to them continuing their educational pursuits. That’s where Kenny Spring Solicitors in Bathurst and Oberon have stepped in.

Bathurst residents committed to doing their bit for the environment now also have an added incentive, with the opportunity to support the youth services delivered by Veritas House.

Today, 18 April is national ‘Youth Homelessness Matters Day’ (YHMD) and local organisation, Veritas House is calling on residents to mark the occasion by recognising that youth homelessness occurs in regional communities like Orange.

Veritas House has been announced successful in its tender to deliver a new youth homelessness program funded by Family and Community Services (FACS) which will extend across Western NSW. The Premier’s Youth Initiative (PYI) aims to prevent homelessness among young people leaving out-of-home care by providing personal advice, education and employment mentoring and transitional accommodation supports.

Bathurst Regional Council has organised a Christmas Picnic in the Parade event to be held on Saturday, 2 December 2017 between 5-9pm. In addition, residents are being asked to embrace the spirit of giving and bring along a gift for children and young people supported by Veritas House.

When Bathurst-based father and businessman, Ben Middleton saw a documentary on youth homelessness he knew he had to do something and so, after doing some research into local services, made the decision to make a personal donation of $5,000 towards local youth service, Veritas House. Ben shared the decision with his brother Dr Jesse Middleton who also jumped on board, and the result was ‘Coffee for a Cause’, where Dr Jesse’s $5,000 donation will ‘pay forward’ coffees at MouBar Vintage in Ribbon Gang Lane, Bathurst on Saturday, 28 October and local residents are asked to make a donation to Veritas in return for their free coffee, with the goal of raising a further $5,000.