SOUTH South Sydney Football Club and Souths Cares has officially joined forces with Coffs Harbour City Council and local employment and training company Enterprise andTraining Company Ltd (ETC) to deliver its Souths Cares program to the Coffs Harbour community.

Souths Cares was established by the club in 2006 to assist disadvantaged young people and their families.

Souths Cares’ programs focus on promoting the benefits of education and healthy lifestyles within indigenous communities and supports pre-employment courses, mentoring and workplace opportunities.

“Being able to bring the benefits of Souths Cares to the whole Coffs Harbour community was a key element of the agreement we signed with the club when we established our partnership with the South Sydney Rabbitohs," Coffs Harbour council's general manager Stephen Sawtell said.

"It’s very good to see that Souths Cares’ programs will be delivered through a local company that already has an excellent track record in helping people overcome the barriers that can prevent them reaching their full potential.”

Souths Cares' general manager John Hutchinson said: “We’re really looking forward to starting to work with the people of Coffs Harbour in implementing some of our programs.

"I was joined by our Souths Cares ambassador David Peachey and one of the Rabbitohs’ players, Dean Widders, in a visit to Coffs Harbour last month and the people we met were so enthusiastic about their community and the help that we can provide.”

ETC general manager Michael Close said the company would draw on the experience of local community-based mentors, and the rich heritage of the Rabbitohs, in the delivery of programs that promoted the benefits of education and healthy lifestyles.

“ETC has been delivering information and programs across the Mid North Coast for a number of years,” Mr Close said.

“Our Personal Support Programs are facilitated from Kempsey to Woolgoolga and out to Dundurrabin. We deliver these programs to clients irrespective of their background - whether they are from non-English speaking backgrounds, Aboriginal, youth or mature age.