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While this year’s annual fundraiser for Springboard Community Works will help grow the organisation locally, it’s also set to deliver the successful programme across the country.
The fundraiser, supported by up to $100,000 from Kennards Hire, will be held at Ascension Wine Estate on November 3 with 160 people attending.
Springboard has operated from Snells Beach for 16 years, but over the last five years founder Gary Diprose has been busy taking his model to other groups trying to achieve the same goal.
Gary is currently assisting four groups in Dargaville, Helensville, Te Awamutu and Otorohanga, but more are calling out for guidance.
“There are eight more groups keen to collaborate with us and we are hoping to take on three more next year,” Gary says.
“How quickly we can expand on what Springboard does will depend on the financial support we get from the community and other avenues.”
He says while people should know all funds raised at Ascension will go back into local work, anyone who wants to can also contribute towards delivering the programme elsewhere.
“I’ve also been in touch with [Minister for Children] Tracey Martin about government support and had good feedback there, and dropped a line to a couple of philanthropists, so we will see what comes out of that.”
Helensville-based Outwest Youth Community Trust is one example of a group that is hoping Springboard can continue its work in other regions.
General manager Naomi Bartley says in five years of working with Gary, things have improved enormously.
“We started with just one programme, but with guidance from Springboard we’ve grown to deliver six,” Naomi says.
“Often organisations are forced to fight each other for funding, but Gary has challenged that with a collaborative approach to helping young people everywhere, which we really like.”
To make sure the Snells Beach operation continues to grow, Gary has brought in Dan Gray as general manager to take care of things while he’s elsewhere.
Dan spent 10 years as a pastor in Gisborne, before working as a teacher at a residential care facility in South Auckland. He came to Springboard as a teacher this year.
His focus is to develop the culture there and also bring in more of a Maori perspective.
“I want to empower young people here so that they can make their own decisions, knowing they will benefit themselves, rather than having to look to management all of the time,” Dan says.
“I’m also keen to address the Maori demographic in this area, and we’re getting the local iwi, Ngati Manuhiri, involved with our work.”
As part of the new-look Springboard, there has been a re-brand, celebrated on October 17 by more than 50 people.
“It’s really important that we keep bettering what we offer, because the success of our work is what we value, not how much money we can bring in,” Gary says.
He encourages people to keep up to date with Springboard as it evolves via its updated website springboard.org.nz.
