A campaign launched by The Royal Gazette to raise $1 million for the New Beginnings Education Trust so it can continue to help young people has been praised in the Upper Chamber.Government Senator Diallo Rabain said yesterday he wanted to “take time to applaud” this newspaper for teaming up with the Trust, run by Kerry Judd, to raise the money over the next year to restore the Mirrors programme and provide grants for young people in need of an education.The Junior Minister for Youth, Families and Sport said it was a worthwhile cause for the Island’s only daily newspaper to back, adding that historically it had not always been as socially conscious.Independent Senator James Jardine said he had been surprised and impressed to read in The Royal Gazette how many people had benefited from Mirrors. “A lot of it was new information to me,” he said.The senator described an “excellent article” which appeared on Tuesday about Mirrors creator Mark Charley and said he would be supporting the campaign.“Certainly, I personally intend to support it by helping where I can and I would urge other members of the Senate to do the same.”Youth and Families Minister Glenn Blakeney subsequently issued a statement of support, acknowledging the 12-month commitment of The Royal Gazette to the initiative.He called the New Beginnings $1 Million Campaign “a stellar example where all sectors of our community have come together to invest in the future success of our country ... our youth”.Added Mr Blakeney: “This Ministry, through Mirrors, has been working closely with the Mirrors Alumni and Friends Association and the New Beginnings Education Trust to identify a viable strategy that will ensure the success of the Mirrors programmes and, as importantly, also help to ensure that the ongoing support is in place for the young people of this country.”Noting that New Beginnings had approached Mirrors last November to bring back its community programme for 19- to 24-year-old males, Mr Blakeney said: “While our focus had shifted primarily to prevention, we also recognised the opportunity that was created by this offer to continue providing intervention support to the older age groups.”