The Tribune

A NEW source of funding is expanding efforts to assist “at risk” teenagers to live a drug- and crime-free life.

The newly formed Family Help and Support Foundation (FHSF) is adding further reach and support for Dr David Allen’s programme, “The Family: People Helping People”, that facilitates community help clinics for the emotionally distressed in the inner city.

THE FHSF was co-founded by Andrew Law and Sally Van Tooren and is designed to helping facilitate a successful programme already in progress, an offshoot of renowned psychiatrist Dr Allen’s “The Family”.

“We are currently providing additional financial aid to a grass-roots group run by Mark Beckford and William Lunn in the Carmichael Road area,” said Mr Law. “Every day they are working their help programme to an identified group of nearly 200 young men between the ages of eight and 17. Two and three mornings a week they are welcomed by the faculty and students at S C McPherson and P A Thompson schools. Leadership and ongoing help and encouragement mixed with life-skill lessons, help the kids stay crime-free.”

“These public-humanity programmes work,” said Mrs Van Tooren. “We will continue to raise money to facilitate these dedicated grass-roots groups that reach and positively affect a generation currently preyed upon by established neighbourhood gangs pushing crime and drugs as a way of life. Obviously, we couldn’t do any of this without our generous donors, people who believe in being proactive in their desire to help where needed in the community.”

Mark Beckford, a former gang leader, runs the programme assisted by William Lunn, a one-time “lost soul” who attributes his recovery to a personal spiritual awakening.

“We’ve been there, we’ve lived the horrors, so our mission, our passion is to save these boys the agonies of addiction and all the social ramifications it brings,” said Mr Beckford. “It’s continual mentoring, nurturing and building of their trust; it’s about helping them develop hope and belief in the future and the desire to learn a trade and become a useful member of society.”

In addition to the visits each week, Mr Beckford runs classes for students about to be suspended from school.

He works to get them back on track, listens to their problems, talks conflict resolution and saves many who may otherwise fall through the cracks and prove easy prey for gang recruitment.

Basketball is a recurring team activity twice in the week and on Sundays. Before the game, Mr Beckford and Mr Lunn run a debriefing and open counselling session on the court, either at Christie Park or the Carmichael Road Police Station grounds.

On Sunday they go indoors at the A F Adderley Gymnasium, following morning service at Christ Community Church.

“These kids share any problems and we discuss how best to manage.

“They learn they are not alone and have a network of reliable like-minded friends,” said Mr Lunn.

All year the kids have been hoping that their basketball training efforts will end with a championship season and grand finale, and thanks to the Foundation, the tournament got underway on Monday and continues to August 7.

“We are all grateful and excited about the tournament; it gives everyone something to look forward to,” Mr Lunn said.

Mr Law and Mrs Van Tooren have provided new equipment, uniforms, T-shirts and championship trophies and arranged for the daily cold drinks, snacks and catering.

Dr Allen said, “We are deeply indebted to Mrs Van Tooren and Mr Andrew Law for their vision and belief in what can be achieved, and with their commitment to fund raising.”