Pedal power: mentoring youths through riding
Turning their passion for riding into a powerful purpose, Ryan Lloyd and Jamie Moore started Lighthouse Youth Projects to engage at-risk youth. They use bikes as a tool for mentoring, building confidence and fostering positive life choices. Supported by BankSA Foundation’s Thrive Grant, Lighthouse Youth Projects is now taking its mission to more regional communities across South Australia.
On a three-hour road trip back to Adelaide from the South Australian town of Renmark, Lighthouse Youth Projects (LYP) co-founders Ryan Lloyd and Jamie Moore are beaming. They’ve successfully taught a 16-year-old to ride a bike, and in the process given this teen a sense of achievement, confidence and independence.
“The only day this kid has been going to school is when we’ve been there teaching him to ride a bike. And now he can!” says Moore. “It’s a truly heartwarming feeling knowing we’re staying true to what we started more than a decade ago when we established the Lighthouse Youth Projects.”
LYP was founded in 2013, after Lloyd and Moore – both riding enthusiasts – spoke at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre in northern Adelaide. They had gone to deliver a motivational speech but instead had a lightbulb moment.
“We rode to the facility and had our bikes checked through security and what was meant to be a motivational talk transformed into an impromptu riding session for the youths,” says Moore. “This was the moment we realised that simple activities like riding could lead to profound, lifelong changes for these young, vulnerable people.”
Now, 12 years later, LYP is a non-profit organisation with five different programs in place, and Lloyd and Moore continue to use bike riding as a powerful tool to support disengaged and at-risk youths in South Australian communities.
One of those programs is Balance, a mentoring program operating in metro Adelaide and regional SA schools. Running over 20 weeks, Balance aims to help disadvantaged school children change their attitudes towards risk-taking behaviours, redirecting such tendencies to their bike in a healthy and positive manner.
The demand for the Balance program continues to grow each year, and since it was founded five years ago it has changed the lives of more than 200 kids. The duo say the Balance program would not be where it is today without the support of BankSA Foundation’s Thrive Grant, which they have been awarded three times.
“Over three years, we’ve received $150,000 in grants from BankSA Foundation. With this money we’ve been able to roll out the Balance program in 10 schools, with a focus on regional communities. This has been pivotal as these students don’t necessarily have the same opportunities as city kids.”
The impact is tangible. According to Willunga High School teacher Nic Ross, “The program has been exemplary and is a definite highlight for the students each week. We’ve seen standout moments where students have surpassed our expectations. For example, we have a young student who struggles with literacy and often displays disruptive behaviour in class. Positive reinforcement from his Balance instructor helped him feel confident enough to read a passage in front of his peers.”
Following the completion of the Balance program, South Australia’s Reynella East College noted a significant improvement in overall attendance, with a 37% increase for the participating cohort. There was also a 62.5% decrease in negative behaviour across classes and the schoolyard.
“Looking five to 10 years down the track can be scary, especially for a BMX rider like me! However, I’d love to see LYP continue to grow and support disengaged youths in SA. One day, I’d even love to have a green space where we can teach kids to grow veggies and cook healthy meals that can fuel their riding!” says Moore.