Program reach to the regions

Glenn Munso, owner and operator of the Youth YOU Program. 156507 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Victoria Stone-Meadows

A HALLAM based youth outreach worker and gym owner is seeking sponsorship so he can take his program of helping young people get off drugs to regional areas.
Glenn Munso from Cranbourne established the Youth YOU Program after recovering from his own struggles with drug addiction.
He believes that his history in the illicit drug world as well as his qualifications in life coaching give him the best insight and ability to help young people in need.
After successfully running the program from his gym in Hallam for about two years, Glenn wants to be able to give his program away for free in areas with high drug use rates among youth.
His book Drugs Do Not Discriminate will tell his story of addiction and recovery as well as include tools, lessons and activities for others to implement the program.
“I have just finished writing a book based on my life experiences and the Youth YOU program that has heaps of lessons and activates to help young people overcome addiction,” Mr Munso said.
“In order to help more people, I want to raise enough funds so I can tour and go to country communities, Aboriginal communities, schools, and prisons and target people suffering from the ice epidemic and give the program to them for free in book form.”
“I want to be able to do talks and give out the program to kids struggling with drug addictions for free through business sponsorships.”
The Youth YOU program is aimed at people aged 18 to 27 and uses a non-clinic approach to supporting young people with addictions and violent histories to change their ways.
Mr Munso is seeking sponsorship from businesses so he can share his program with those who most need it at no cost to the user.
“I am looking out for sponsorship and for people to get on board to sponsor the campaign and help with the book so I can then help schools and communities with what they are going through.”
While Mr Munso has done some fundraising through hosting a trivia night and sausage sizzles, he said sponsorship is the most realistic way he can deliver his program for free to communities in need.
“At the moment we have done a trivia night to raise funds and sausage sizzle but the rest has been through people who sponsor kids through the program,” he said.
“To really make this work I need the support of people and businesses in the community.”
Mr Munso’s book is due to be release in January and he plans to begin touring and giving the program away as soon as he can after the book release.
Members of the community can also help Mr Munso help others by donating to his gofundme campaign by searching for ‘Glenn Munso’ on gofundme.com.
Businesses or organisations interesting in sponsoring Mr Munso’s program can visit youthyouprogram.com for more information.