As part of its staff fundraiser program, Kempsey Shire Council has donated $1000 to the Love Bites Program – a respectful relationships education program for young people aged 15-17 years.
The program aims to raise awareness about the prevalence and forms of domestic and family violence and sexual assault and looks to promote respectful relationships.
It is delivered to the following high schools – Kempsey Adventist School, Kempsey High School, Macleay Vocational College, Melville High School, St Paul’s College – and to Key Employment, Kempsey.
The program is the third recipient to benefit from Council’s Casual for a Cause fundraiser which sees staff wear casual clothes to work every Friday for a gold coin donation.
Council’s General Manager, Craig Milburn, said the fundraiser was a simple way council staff could give back to the community.
“The Love Bites program is a fantastic program for young people, teaching them respectful relationship education through interactive and creative workshops,” he said.
“Council is pleased to be able to support NSW Police, NSW Health and Kempsey Families in delivering this project at our local high schools.”
NSW Police Northern Region Domestic and Family Violence Sponsor, Detective Acting Superintendent Greg Thomas, said this grant will help to introduce the concepts of positive and respectful behaviours during those crucial teenage years.
“Early intervention is key when it comes to educating young people about fostering positive relationships,” Mr Thomas said.
“The Love Bites program incorporates lessons and knowledge from several domestic and family violence agencies across the NSW North Coast to give teenagers the best information at hand to establish and maintain these long-term behaviours.”
Gemma Taylor of Kempsey Families said the donation from Council will assist with the purchase of flags for Smith Street, Kempsey.
“These flags have been created by young people of the Macleay after completing the Loves Bites program at school in 2019,” she said.
“These artworks are a local community campaign to highlight the impacts Domestic Family Violence and Sexual Assault have on our community.”
Due to COVID-19, the program will not go ahead this year but will resume in 2021.
Council’s General Manager Craig Milburn and staff present a cheque for $1000 to NSW Police Superintendent Shane Cribb and NSW Police Region Domestic and Family Violence Coorindator, Kiah Bowen and representatives from Kempsey Families.
