A Porirua programme helping young people gain their driver licences is calling for more volunteer driver mentors to support learners.
The Drive 4 Life programme, run by Partners Porirua Charitable Trust, pairs young people with trained volunteer mentors who supervise practice driving and help them build the confidence needed to progress through the licence pathway.
Organisers say many young people struggle to gain their licences because of the cost of lessons, limited access to vehicles, or not having an experienced driver available to help them practise.
Learning to drive can be a major step toward employment and independence, helping prepare young people for the working world.
Volunteer driver mentors play a key role in the programme by supervising practice sessions and encouraging safe driving habits on local roads.
Partners Porirua is looking for patient and confident drivers aged 25 or older who have held a full licence for at least two years. Volunteers are asked to give between one and three hours a week and must pass a police check.
Mentors receive training from qualified driving instructors, ongoing support from the Drive 4 Life team, and access to programme vehicles to use with their learner driver.
The programme is part of Partners Porirua’s wider work supporting rangatahi with skills and opportunities that help them move into employment and further training.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer driver mentor can find more information through Partners Porirua: https://partnersporirua.org.nz/support-us/#driver-mentor