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For more than 20 years, Springboard in Warkworth has been offering opportunities and support for some of Rodney’s most vulnerable young people.
As the name suggests, Springboard has made it possible for its students to get a start in life by creating a sense of belonging, and offering programmes that wrap around those who walk through its doors.
It’s an invaluable service, which is why, as a not-for-profit organisation, fundraising is so important.
Springboard’s ‘1000@10 Club’ funding initiative aims to have 1000 people giving $10 per month by signing up for either a weekly or monthly donation.
Springboard general manager Dan Gray says at its peak the club had around 750 people giving $10 a month, but covid had a massive impact on that funding stream, and it’s now down to around 350 subscriptions.
“So we’re trying to lift that regular support. It’s $10 a month, you know. For the cost of two coffees a month you can support a young person. I call it a small way to make a big difference,” he says.
There’s also a social media campaign for the ‘1000@10’ called ‘What concerns you?’ which empowers people who want to make a difference but are maybe unsure of what to do – the club lets them ‘do something about it’.
“Hopefully, at $10 a month, that’s giving people an easy in to supporting us.”
Another important initiative is Springboard’s annual fundraiser, which is on November 9.
“It’s basically a family dinner where people can come together. Our goal is to raise $100,000 in an evening, and that gets matched up to $100,000 by Kennards Hire and Northwood [Developments Ltd].
“Our young people get up and share their stories. Our two speakers this year have had long-term connections with Springboard,” Gray says.
“They haven’t necessarily been with us the whole time. But the beauty of Springboard is we can meet a kid at five and then we might work with them again when they’re 25 through our work placement programme.
“Our job is to build independence and to help prop kids up so they can stand on their own two feet. That’s the heart of it.”
The theme of this year’s dinner couldn’t be more appropriate then – Great Things Grow Here.
