Shaping the Next Generation of Liverpool Men with Try Time & Thrive
The experiences and support we receive in our formative years can shape the rest of our lives - which is why Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections (LNC) focuses on grassroots programs for local boys from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Early intervention to change problematic behaviour is essential, especially given that 90% of young people in detention are male, and suicide is the biggest killer of males aged 15 -44.*
Try Time is a 10-week program at Warwick Farm Public School for Year 6 Boys, run by LNC and designed to teach them confidence and leadership skills before they start high school.
It works by getting boys involved in sports such as cricket, football, soccer and basketball. This provides an opportunity for them to be mentored not only on how to play the game and to make new friends, but on how to be a team player.
Building Resilience From a Young Age
To run the program, LNC partners with stakeholders such as Liverpool Police, the NRL, Cricket Australia and Charity Bounce.
LNC Operations Manager Eva Kovacevic says that having the Liverpool Police involved lends authority and teaches the boys about anti-social behaviour and anti-bullying strategies.
“A Liverpool Police Youth Liaison Officer attends the sessions and joins in on the sports game and the informal chats,’ says Eva. “The boys are given advice on the latest trends, such as the health issues associated with vaping.”
An LNC staff member also mentors the boys about transitioning to high school. Once in high school, the boys are able to join an after-school program called Thrive, where they’re taught about self-respect, positive relationships, resilience, confidence, respect for women and respect for each other.
“Each week the boys start the session off with a chat about a topic and then they do a warm up and have a game. They finish the session with a warm down and another chat, such as with the Liverpool Police Liaison Officer about antisocial behaviour. The structure is informal but also educational.”
Creating a Sense of Belonging
Community support and engagement such as that shown by the Police makes a huge difference to the boys.
“It gives them a sense of belonging to a tribe and helps them feel at home in their environment. It then improves their behaviour and attitude within the community,” says Eva.
Thrive also involves workshops that cover these topics in more depth than Try Time. For example, a recent partnership was with Top Blokes, a foundation which concentrates on improving both physical and mental health outcomes for boys.
Top Blokes ran a program with the Thrive group which aimed to increase their resilience, empathy and respect for themselves and for others - especially women.
“The issues we are trying to prevent are risk taking behaviours, mental health issues and antisocial behaviour,” says Eva.
The LNC staff actively encourage the boys to get involved in everything from the workshops to the sports games. The program is also tailored to suit different boys and give everyone a chance to do something they enjoy.
“Some boys aren’t into sports but when encouraged they’ll get involved or they’ll do another activity,” says Eva. “For example, if they don’t want to play basketball, they might play a game of handball instead. Nobody is left out of a session, we always find a way for them to participate in some way.”
Eva says there have been many success stories from the program.
“One of the greatest things to see is when the Try Time boys create a bond with the older boys in Thrive, so that when they start high school they don’t feel so isolated and alone or afraid as they have friends from Thrive there. They told us they felt like they had someone to go to if they needed help.”
Another success story from Thrive is the new basketball court, which opened in 2018 after $150,000 was raised by LNC over two years. Having easy access to sporting facilities is something which many Australian kids take for granted. However, this was the first court in the Warwick Farm area.
“They all love to go to the court and have a game and also feel a sense of ownership, knowing that the group was involved in raising funds for the court. Even if they weren’t the boys that were directly involved, they still know how much hard work went into it and that it’s a huge achievement.”
Together, We’re Strong! The next generation can thrive if we all get behind them - and everyone in our city deserves that chance.
You can make a tangible difference in the Sydney community. If you’d like to donate to Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections, or become involved as a volunteer or mentor, get in touch today.
*Statistics on detention and suicide rates in Australia from Top Blokes Foundation (Retrieved November 2021).
