Westwood Farm, as it is known today, provides a refuge or haven for the at-risk youth in our communities through contracted service providers in education, job preparedness, accommodation and horticulture. Westwood Farm is a working farm inside the bounds of the city of Canberra. The farm is managed by Lions Youth Haven Inc: a not-for-profit organisation owned and supported by the Lions Clubs in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region (District 201N2). Lions Youth Haven was the vision of our founder Sel Westwood who convinced the ACT Government in 1988 that Lions could turn an abandoned farm on the Kambah Pool Road into a haven for youth at risk in our community. Lions Youth Haven also runs a commercial horse agistment operation for up to 65 horses in stables and private and shared paddocks and has a registered Red Angus cattle stud. Our objectives are to provide facilities and services which:
- allow young people in situations of crisis to find a refuge and support;
- provide support for disengaged young people where they can gain confidence and self respect;
- provide these young people with training in basic skills which equip them better to fill their places in society as self-sufficient and productive individuals; and
- give these young people a place in the outdoors to learn about and develop their own dignity in an outdoor environment.
