Raw Potential is an outreach service for at-risk young people (aged 12-24) exposed to and experiencing severe social disadvantage. Our focus is to empower vulnerable youth to help break the cycle of poverty, and provide opportunities for a bright future where they can realise their raw potential and worth.
Our clients are raw, both in terms of age and experience in the general community. They experience homelessness, mental health issues, violence and drug-use, and are often extremely isolated and disengaged from mainstream service providers. Since establishment, we have developed and focused our outreach program around our clients' needs. We offer a program that is inclusive and supports the personal and social welfare of young people, such as housing, health care, employment, financial assistance, education, life skills, interpersonal relationships and empowerment. We are creative and flexible and assist with immediate needs as well as working towards longer term goals.
Our experience is a non-threatening, non-judgmental environment is most successful with this vulnerable group. For this reason, we go out and engage with young people in their space so they can feel comfortable connecting with us and working together. We may work with a young person as an individual, or as part of a support team. This means we provide a holistic approach to our care and support.
Our program is one of the only after-hours services in the Canberra region.