Are you a good driver? Safe? Responsible? A Road Code whiz? Could you spare two hours a week to help a young person practice for their on-road driving licence test?

If so, the Y would love to hear from you!

In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Y offers the Community Driver Mentor Programme (CDMP) –  the programme is in great demand and we’re looking for more volunteer mentors.

CDMP matches learner drivers with fully licensed volunteer mentors who coach them on the skills and safe driving practices they’ll need to pass the restricted test. Specifically, volunteer driving mentors:

• help a learner driver prepare for the on-road practical test required to progress to their restricted licence
• volunteer to support the learner’s driving practice for two one-hour drives per week for up to 12 weeks, helping the learner driver to become safer on our roads
• act as a coach and supervisor for a range of practical driving experiences
• help foster positive safe habits that will follow the learner throughout their lifetime of driving.

Having a driver’s licence is an important milestone for rangatahi. Without it, young people aged 18-24 are more likely to be unemployed and end up in the court system, according to a 2016 report sponsored by ACC and the New Zealand Transport Agency which looked at the impact of having a driver’s licence. The report found that 70 per cent of jobs require a driver licence. The 2021 YMCA South & Mid Canterbury Youth Survey found that only 12% of young people age 16+ have a full driver licence and 23% have no licence at all.

Lack of a driver licence is a big problem for young people looking for work, especially in today’s robust job market. Employers routinely require applicants to have a licence, even when driving is not part of the job, using a licence as a way of assessing reliability to get to work, as well as an indication of aptitude and attitude.

The Government’s increased funding for driver education programmes is part of efforts to enable rangatahi to attain their driving licence, but it is only half of what is need to fix this barrier to employment.

It can be challenging for many rangatahi to get sufficient on-road practice – “time behind the wheel” – to feel confident to sit their restricted test. They may lack family support, a reliable car, funds for petrol and licence fees, etc. The Community Driver Mentor Programme helps to address those needs.

As a volunteer CDMP mentor, you’ll receive with full training from the Y, support from one of our qualified driving instructors and use of a suitable vehicle. If you’ve held a full licence for more than two years and can support a learner driver on two one-hour drives weekly, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Community Driver Programme Coordinator Sue Henderson at susan@ymcasc.org.nz or 027 937 4837 or 03 688 3682.