The SOKS Story
Serving young people has long been an important part of the Rotary program. It is the responsibility of each Rotarian to prepare the New Generations – all young people up to the age of 30 – by improving their life skills to ensure a better future while recognising the diversity of their needs. All clubs and districts are encouraged to undertake projects that support the fundamental needs of the New Generations: health, human values, education, self-development and safety.
In 2010 a couple of members of Gosford North Rotary were discussing the issues affecting young people on the Central Coast. What concerned them most was the number of people taking their own lives. So they formed a committee to address this issue, naming the project SOKS, short for Save Our Kids from Suicide.
In 2011, these same members participated in a LivingWorks safeTALK presentation delivered by trainers from Lifeline Central Coast which cemented their resolve to make a difference to all young lives on the Central Coast.
In 2012 they formed a partnership with Lifeline to fund a range of training programs to educate people in how to identify and approach a young person contemplating suicide.Because of their prior involvement with youth, they formed two arms of SOKS, Suicide Prevention and Youth Enrichment.
Since then, SOKS has worked in conjunction with Lifeline Central Coast, jointly seeking to build suicide-safer secondary schools on the Central Coast. Funds raised facilitate delivery of safeTALK presentations, 2-day LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshops, Self-harming Behaviours Awareness modules, SKILLS for Parents and Mind Your Sports Mates awareness training for young sports people. Such training enables participants to become more aware, alert and armed with appropriate responses for young people who may be at risk.
