Springboard says thank you

May 24, 2022 8:00am

Jacob Reid, pictured with Bianca Kirkwood and their nine-month-old daughter Dakota, were at the supporters’ breakfast. Reid attended the Port Albert classes run by Gary Diprose, which became the genesis for Springboard. Today, he runs his own company J2 Construction, one of the companies thanked for its support of Springboard’s move to Sheepworld. “It’s cool to see how far Springboard has come,” he said.

Youth support programme Springboard has been on a whirlwind ride since moving its headquarters from Snells Beach to Sheepworld, on State Highway 1, last October.

But the group pressed pause on Saturday, May 14 to organise a breakfast to say ‘thank you’ to the people who had helped the group make the transition.

Founder Gary Diprose said the level of support received from local businesses and the community was humbling.

“We’re still running wild here, but we’re winning thanks to your contribution,” he told the group. “You went above and beyond because you believed in what we’re doing, which has been a huge boost to us.”

Diprose reflected on the journey Springboard has been on over the past 20 years.

“It started with 10 kids at Port Albert learning farming skills in a building with holes in the wall where the rats would get in. Now we’re involved with 240 kids across a wide range of programmes.

“This isn’t just about changing a young person’s life and making our communities safer, we’re now setting up a youth development resource in north Auckland that has the potential to change thousands of lives.”

Diprose said however, Springboard continued to rely heavily on donations and support from the Mahurangi community. Government funding met around 43 per cent of its budget, with the community funding the remaining 57 per cent.

After breakfast, the attendees were invited to take a guided tour of the facility before the doors were opened to the public for a free Open Day.