The Property Industry Foundation (PIF) has held a sod turning ceremony to celebrate the construction commencement of a $400,000 project for Barnardos at Hosking Street, Penrith.
The project is an extension to the Barnardos family and children’s centre located in Penrith which is dedicated to young people at risk.
PIF, a charity for the property and construction industry aiming to raise money and awareness to reduce youth homelessness, donated $135,000 to the project, with a further $30,000 donated by Australand to assist with funding the works.
The project will include refurbished educational rooms, new offices for counsellors, an undercover courtyard, a new kitchen and a new garden.
"Homelessness disrupts education and threatens health and safety of young people. Our aim is to help them to find their ‘way back’ and develop positive relationships," says Rosemary Smithson, CEO of PIF.
The refurbished facility will provide a secure environment for up to 95 per cent of cases of homeless young people in the area and will be the hub for all existing Barnardos Youth Services in Penrith.
