'We're fair dinkum at Souths': NRL players help group connect with kids

The Souths Cares group will reach nearly 3800 students across 13 schools across the Northern Rivers this week.

NRL players Shaquai Mitchell and Ben Lovett join former premiership-winning fullback Rhys Wesser and ambassador Yileen Gordon part of the program.

Souths Cares is an independent not-for-profit, closely affiliated with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

It aims to support disadvantaged, marginalised and indigenous youth and families with a specific focus on education, training, health and employment.

Gordon made his NRL debut with Souths in 2005.

The 37-year-old is still a regular in its NSW Cup side and enjoys working in its regional health promotion tours.

This tour is one of four they will do across the country this year with the focus on health promotion workshops.

It is accompanied by physical activity sessions and aimed at primary school kids.

Gordon oversaw a group of about 300 kids from Ballina, Cabbage Tree Island and Wardell on May 6.

"We're lucky to come here and give something back to the community," he said.

"Every day I learn something off Rhys and he's a really good mentor to young people.

"We're fair dinkum at Souths when we say we're the pride of the league and we can't do that without delivering programs like this.

"Kids around here might not get to meet NRL players very often, so it's important they see us and know what we're about.

"On the field we have a few injuries at the moment, but I expect things to turn around in the second half of the season.

"It's great to have some of the players here this week, these sort of trips really fill their cup and they love getting out into the country."

A major focus from the well-being workshops this week was based on Connect, Respect and Resilience themes.

There was plenty of time for a run around and field session with the players.

Alisha Parker-Elrez is the CEO of Souths Cares and has been involved with the club since 2014.

It started in 2007 and was a way to give back to the community after Souths were readmitted to the competition five years earlier.

They now have 19 fulltime stuff who mentor and support more than 600 Indigenous people in Sydney each week.

"We have early intervention programs around the juvenile justice system where we take the kids for six months to do an intensive support program," Ms Parker-Elrez said.

"A big thing is mentoring and getting out into the schools, asking them what programs they need.

"We provide mental health awareness with about 10 key areas on health and well-being.

"The best thing is it's all free.

"When we spend a week moving around a region like this we can see thousands of kids, so it's definitely worth it."