BASSENDEAN’S RYDE program aims to help young drivers achieve the 50 hours needed to acquire a WA driver’s license and is calling for new mentors to join the initiative.

The Town of Bassendean recognised that young people without access to suitable supervisors or vehicles, were severely marginalised from participating in employment, training and leisure activities.

These issues were magnified when, in 2012 the state government increased the number of required supervised hours from 25 to 50.

RYDE mentor Adam Khan said being a mentor had been a rewarding experience and participants, who usually came from challenging environments were often appreciative of the opportunity.

“I just wanted to see happy faces, you know, if these young kids know how to drive,” he said.

“It’s very rewarding in a way that you have people from challenging backgrounds coming into it.

“It’s a great program for young people who don’t have money to pay $60 or $70 per hour.

“At the end of the day you can see the smile and happiness in them so it’s very satisfying work.

“But you need a lot of patience and a lot of care, also understanding some special needs for people with special backgrounds, cultural backgrounds, new migrants.

“It’s challenging work but at the end of the day when they are away and they’re driving, you think, ‘wow’.

“One of my students actually came back to my home and brought some sweets and he was just absolutely over the moon that he could drive.”

Young people learning from the RYDE program will have completed the learning to drive phase of the process with a professional driving instructor.

This is to ensure the sessions are just about gaining experience and honing skills.

All driving sessions will be undertaken in a dedicated RYDE program vehicle.

Any driver that meets the basic criteria to supervise a learner driver, is willing to view an online induction video and pass the relevant police clearances, are eligible to get involved with RYDE as a mentor.

New mentors are expected to be available for at least one 90-minute session per week, have access to a phone that can text, hold a current C class driver’s license and have a safe driving history.

More information and to register for the program is available at www.ryde.org.au