The founder of an Indigenous youth program that has helped more than 100 children stay in school in the past four years says he will be forced to shut it down if he cannot secure longer term government funding.
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Bill Bashford, who earlier this year quit his role as an official visitor because of concerns about the operation of the scheme, has been operating Solid Sistas and Brothas on a series of running federal government grants, but can no longer operate on such insecurity.
His $87,000 federal grant runs out at the end of the year, and he will learn in December if he will have the funding to open his doors in January.
That precariousness has taken its toll on Mr Bashford, who says he is working five days a week on two days of pay because he believes in what his program is giving young Aboriginal Canberrans.
Now he says he will give his clients notice in October that he will close his doors this year, if a longer term solution can't be found.
"We can't wait until December to find out if we've got a program in January. We have to plan. If we want to deliver serious programs, got to plan for that," Mr Bashford said.
The core Solids program takes place on a Monday evenings.
About 40 children come each week with their parents, and together they cook, dance, create Indigenous art and listen to guest speakers.
Kids receive rewards like movie tickets or ten-pin bowling trips for completing key milestones in their schooling.
Junior mentors in the program are given a gym membership and train once a week with Brumbies star Robbie Abel. Abel also helps teach mothers in the program about nutrition.
Mr Bashford said in the past four years, each year 12 student involved in the program has completed their schooling.
Mr Bashford also runs mentoring within schools, a program he says he has been asked to do for 10 weeks with several staff for a total of $2500.
He said the grants offered to Indigenous people in Canberra are "tokenistic".
"We're not going to close the gap through $1500 grants," Mr Bashford said.
Mr Bashford met with ACT education officials, in a meeting facilitated by minister Yvette Berry's office, to pitch an expanded version of his program.
He said he is yet to hear back.
Mr Bashford said the ACT government should take responsibility for what is ultimately a territory problem.
"We've been doing the work of the ACT government and they're not coming on board," Mr Bashford said.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Mr Bashford met with ACT education minister Yvette Berry.
