Like you, we want to see young people accessing a meaningful education.

We’re concerned that in the whole of the greater Auckland region, Rodney District has one of the highest numbers of kids leaving school before the age of 17*.

Some kids just don’t do well in mainstream school, and often that’s not their fault.

Home circumstances and/or past trauma can outwork in behaviours that make classroom learning untenable for the young person and potentially unsafe for themselves, other students and teachers.

We collaborate with local organisations to bring learning experiences alive for these vulnerable young people.

Rather than theory, our kids need practical learning. Literacy and numeracy come through learning to cook, or planning and budgeting for an overnight camp. They learn discipline by going to the gym, and physical health classes might look like learning to surf. They’re engaged in routines, and pro-social activities in the community learning the soft-skills that help them to become contributing citizens in their communities.

We also don't wait til vulnerable kids have left school.

We are actively present in local high schools, supporting these kids to stay in school.

We bring a 10-week programme directly aimed at kids wanting to leave - it keeps them in school for an extra term and equips them for life outside of school (getting an IRD number, a driver licence and a bank account, alternative training options, job interviews, how to be a good tenant, maintaining a household budget and so on). We create space for them to discover their own talents, skills and passions, so they are not leaving school to head to a government benefit.

We attend school camps to provide extra assistance to the teachers and build connections with our local young people.

We run amateur (non-contact) boxing classes in our local colleges, teaching kids to take pride in themselves, achieve their goals and manage emotion in a healthy way.

We work face-to-face with young people who need someone to care, who need someone to understand, people who won’t give up and who will see past their ‘stuff’ to find ways to help.

There is great power in unity. That’s where you come in. That’s why you’re here, too.

Welcome to Springboard. We’re gathering 1000 people like you to help us make a difference. Will you join us?