THE Portsea Camp may be needed more than ever with young people reporting that their mental health deteriorating since the outbreak of COVID-19.
But the camp needs community support to keep the doors open.
The camp, near the beach in a bush setting, was established in 1946 as a non-denominational and registered charity governed by a board of directors. Since then, it has provided a holiday for more than 75,000 children.
Chairman Mark Betts said the camp’s role was to provide community and charitable services to at-risk children and their carers – predominantly children with a range of neuro-diversities, LGBTQ+, and developmental trauma. It also provides a holiday place for those in child protection, suffering from family violence, kinship care cohorts and children affected by regional and rural disadvantage – poverty, isolation and those from bushfire-affected regions.
The camp receives no government money for it to provide outdoor nature based-programs.
“The camp provides an invaluable service to the children of Victoria – providing lasting memories, building strength and resilience and, above all, letting children have fun,” Mr Betts said.
“We must all work together to see that The Portsea Camp can continue to deliver its mission and allow many more generations of children and their families the opportunity to be nurtured by this unique organisation.”
Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/the-portsea-camp-needs-your-help.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 26 October 2021
