ACT teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds are being offered the feeling of freedom that comes from earning your P-plates thanks to a partnership between Capital Region Community Services and the Road Ready Centre.

Called Easy P’s, the program will enable teens from the Belconnen Youth Centre to be taught driving skills by qualified and experienced driving teachers free of charge.

The teenagers will start their driving lessons this week with the aim of completing the required 100 hours of instruction under supervision by the end of the year.

Young single mum Aphrodite Seckold-Wren said with her P-plates she’d be able to manage parenting and chase her dreams of becoming an actress.

“I want to take my son to the beach, which I’ve only done once and that was for like, two seconds,”
Ms Seckold-Wren said.

“With my P’s, I can most likely go to more auditions and not miss out on time with my son because of how long it takes to travel between each thing.”

Teenager Cody Rousell, also a participant in the program, said the opportunity will be life changing.

“I 100 per cent would have struggled to ever get my P’s without this, it’s so helpful, I’ll be able to help my mum and dad with getting my siblings to school,” Mr Rousell said.

“There’s so many of my friends and people I know who could use help like this and to be able to go
play basketball anytime wherever I want would be amazing,” he said.

CEO of Road Ready Centre, Steve Lake, said delivering the program is one of the most rewarding parts of his job.

“It’s hugely rewarding; we like to consider ourselves as a community service because we want to make a difference to the community and we want to reduce trauma,” Mr Lake said.

“Particularly in a place like Canberra, it’s all about being able to get to the shops but more importantly to get to work, to get your independence and even access basic services,” he said.

Youth Support Practitioner Juan Caranguian said the collaboration it’s a terrific opportunity for teenagers who’d never normally be given the chance to get their P’s.

“Some of these teenagers are single parents, we have one young teenager who is already a fulltime
carer for his parents, they’ll be much better positioned to help in those roles and succeed in life once they can drive,” said Mr Caranguian.