An update from Dan
I was recently sharing with someone about the amazing opportunity I have to engage with young people and show love and genuine care for them and their futures.
As we talked we began to discuss some research out of the States that proposes 4 key things that kids need to experience that help them thrive in life:
- Love of their mother
- Love of their father
- Love of their future (hope)
- Love of themselves
The research suggests that the greatest influencing factor is a young person's ability to love themselves.
I see it everyday with young people who lack confidence in themselves and find substitutes in isolation, disengagement, drugs, violence, self-harm, poor self-care, negative relationships and offending or criminal behaviour.
One of our core functions is to support young people to discover who they are, to find a place of belonging, reconnect with their true self, and understand how awesome they are. The best days are those where kids start to get it, where they begin to realise they are a gift and not a burden to this world, that they have something positive to contribute. It's often a hard road cracking this, but we believe that every young person has gold in them, it's our job to simply harvest that alongside them.
We know that this doesn't happen in isolation. We recognise that we are simply a link in a strong chain that wraps around these young people; family, community, sports clubs, churches and other support mechanisms are what make this community great.
We are excited to share with you some of what has taken place as young people begin to find themselves, so far in 2026.
Dan
Introducing our new Horticulture Centre
We feel a deep sense of responsibility to equip rangatahi for their future.
Setting young people up for life with transferrable skills, confidence and resilience has always been at the core of who we are.
Since moving to Sheepworld in 2022, it's been a key goal to expand our activity and focus on creating a environment where young people are trained and engaged in real-life contexts to gain, develop and refine skills.
In 2026 we are intentionally building a model that offers young people real-world opportunities through our existing café, farm, and tourism businesses while innovating and creating wider opportunities such as furniture making, firewood processing and native tree cultivation and planting.
If you've visited Sheepworld recently you may have noticed a large new structure out on the Farm Park. That's our Horticulture Centre! We recently engaged young people from across our programmes to pot 8500 seedlings which are the beginnings of this new venture. The plants will now grow for 6 months and then be planted out on the farm in our wetland areas as part of a revitalisation plan for the farm.
We recently had kids from the programmes collect native seed from around the property: kahikatea, kauri, puriri and kowhai seeds were all ready to collect. This is a rich learning pathway that becomes an engaging real-world context for young people to experience the full process of seed to plant under the roof of our new facility.
Our goal is to develop more opportunities like this to give space for young people to develop a wide range of skills, gaining micro-credentials and industrial certification, work records and references to position themselves to enter into employment.
We are grateful for the support of Kennards Hire Foundation and Auckland Foundation (Tindall Grassroots) in this project.
A message from Gary
Hi to all our faithful supporters.
Thousands of young people have passed through our doors since Springboard first began.
What started off as a dream to make a difference in a young person’s life was brought into reality on 10 August 2002 when seven young people started our first Alternative Education programme. This day was the start of my journey of what it really looked like to walk in the shoes of a young person who had given up hope for themselves.
It has been a journey with lots of fun, learning, connections with incredible people, moments laced with pride, wonder, and at times frustrations.
It has been a privilege over these 24 years to serve North Rodney. We have seen so many radical life changes over the years and have witnessed the massive growth to what Springboard looks like today.
There is no doubt about it: I am proud of what we have achieved as a community of like-minded believers, of the lives that have been affected for the better, of the Springboard team and the heart they carry for our young people.
I love the plans that we have for the future, that Sheepworld will always be a resource for training and developing young people for the generations to come.
I am constantly amazed to where we are today, from the humble beginnings to now outworking our dream with such an awesome group of people in a place of paradise with so many opportunities.
This next paragraph may seem weird to some of you, but I would like to inform you all that my time at Springboard now comes to an end.
I always wanted to ensure that Springboard would not falter when the founder moves on and for 5 years now, our team have been putting systems and people in place to ensure that the transition will be as seamless as possible.
We are now settled after 4 years at Sheepworld and are planning the next 5 -10 years, so I feel that the time is right for me to step aside and let the next chapter be led by the next generation of leaders.
I will continue to work at Springboard for a further 6 months finishing September 30th, so I will still have a chance to say goodbye to you all.
Thank you for being part of the wider team, the believers and encouragers that have given us the fuel needed to keep going.
Thank you for your generosity, your love and support.
Gary
Removing rural isolation: Te Ariki's story
When we first met Te Ariki, he didn't particularly want to be noticed. In fact, his goal back then was fairly simple: blend into the background, be invisible.
Living in a remote rural area with no transport, no job, and having been permanently excluded from school, Te Ariki was at a crossroads. Coming from a home where long-term benefit reliance was the norm for his siblings, the path ahead was well-worn and predictable. We see it with many young people, and it's usually pretty easy to identify. We can never underestimate the importance of positive role models.
Te Ariki's seemingly quiet exterior and the weight of social anxiety, meant he was happy to go un-noticed. Of course, our Youth Coaches are used to engaging with young people who don't wish to connect.
We first met Te Ariki through his cousin who was engaged in one of our programmes. Because Te Ariki was initially too young for our official programmes, we started where all good things begin: relationship.
He began coming along with his cousin to Springboard, simply to get used to being around people. We took him to barbering schools and mechanical workshops, slowly stretching his comfort zone.
"The relationship has to come first," says Youth Coach, James. "When he first engaged with us, he didn't talk much and was very non-committal. We had to meet him there, build trust without the pressure, and show him what the adult world looks like."
Of course, it helped that both Te Ariki and James are huge Batman fans, which was an ideal connection point!
Once Te Ariki was of age to engage with our programmes on a more formal basis, that foundation of trust paid off. The young man who once struggled to speak to strangers began to soar:
- Education: He achieved his NCEA Level 1 in just three months, through our partnership with People Potential. He is now well on his way to completing Level 2.
- Leadership: He earned his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award through our Impact Alternative Education programme.
- Independence: He secured his learner’s license and is currently tracking toward his restricted, through our Driving Academy.
- Future Focus: He has enrolled in a micro-credential in mechanical engineering, looking forward to his dream of becoming a mechanic.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Te Ariki’s growth is his sheer grit. When he moved to Glenfield recently (a move that often leads to young people dropping out of support systems) Te Ariki refused to be "lost" in the system.
Every Thursday, he catches the bus all the way back up here from Glenfield (a 1hr40min journey on 2 different buses). He is proactive, he is hungry to learn, and he is refusing to let his past define his future.
Today, Te Ariki is a different person from the quiet, fade-into-the-background kid we met a couple of years ago. He is honest, hardworking, and building a life of connection. He’s no longer facing the world alone; he has a great CV and the confidence to use it.
"He has a real drive to do things differently," James shares. "He’s not letting anxiety define him anymore. He’s stepping up, doing the work, and finding his voice."
Your support makes these steps toward a brighter future possible. The variety of programmes we can offer create an holistic experience for our young people, with opportunity to engage with many different role models.
Because of you, our supporters, young men like Te Ariki aren't just surviving; they are driving toward a future they once thought was impossible.
Us in our community
Every year about this time, our Impact Alternative Education students are out and about volunteering at the set up for our A&P Show. They move tables, place rubbish bins, set up gazebos and do other odd jobs that support the A&P Team.
On the day, this team runs a sausage sizzle to raise funds for the camp that they will go on later in the year.
This year we also brought Sheepworld to the Show! Our Valais lambs, Brownie the alpaca and of course Jerry the miniature horse had a great time. It was great for us to have young people involved in helping with running "Cuddle Corner" where children (and adults!) were able to come for cuddle with our animals. Pretty sure Jerry has never had so many brushes in one day!
The year so far...
We currently have 125 young people enrolled in one or more of our programmes this year. That means 125 families are engaged with us and there are new legacies being developed in our community.
Those young people are affected by a number of challenges and our programmes use a framework based on our Theory of Change to help our rangatahi set new direction and head towards a brighter future.
These challenges are not abstract. The numbers are not just numbers. They represent young people living in situations where they have not had opportunity to learn positive choices, healthy relationships or how to prioritise their mental wellbeing.
We know that when young people are regularly connecting with positive role models over a period of time, within a context of belonging and purposed experiences, change will take place.
While we do not have "success data" at this early point in the year, what we can tell you is:
- Our cohort of young people engaged in achieving their NCEA Level 1 & Level 2 are passing their courses faster than the tutors can write the modules!
- We have been building up the self-esteem of young parents, teaching them budgeting in courses run onsite and creating space for connection (see story below).
- Our Impact Alternative Education rangatahi completed a stint volunteering to help set up the local A&P Show. Their volunteer time adds to their requirements for achieving their Duke of Edinburgh award.
On the day they ran our traditional sausage sizzle and some discovered new skills in engaging confidently with customers!
- One young person in particular has shown outstanding initiative by developing a business plan to train as a nail technician and eventually launch her own business in her local area, after recognising there is currently no one providing this service in her community. She is now exploring the idea of starting a mobile nail business and growing it into a future franchise, showing incredible motivation and vision despite currently not being in education or employment as she is caring for her daughter (under a year old).
Coming up at the farm
Visiting Sheepworld is a great way to support Springboard.
Sheepworld forms part of our revenue stream, as we build diverse ways to fund our programmes. We're actively working to raise visitor numbers, thereby increasing revenue. Check out some of our upcoming events:
The Wonky Donkey Show
Live at Sheepworld - we're really excited to be hosting Craig Smith, the Wonky Donkey man, who is bringing the Wonky Donkey Show to our Shearing Barn!
Book now, as seats are limited.
Mother's Day
Bookings are now open for High Tea at our cafe.
This event was very popular last year, so make your reservation early. Remember, your mum gets free Farm Park entry on Mother's Day!
More Than a Memory: Building a Village for Young Parents
If you are a parent, you know that raising a child is one of life’s most profound (and exhausting) challenges. Even with a village of support, the journey is taxing. But for the young parents who engage with us, that village often doesn't exist.
For a 16-20 year old new parent, without a driver’s license, a peer group, or a strong support network, the transition into parenthood isn't just difficult. It can be deeply isolating.
At Springboard, we don’t see "getting out of the house" as a nice break; we see it as a vital Learning and Development outcome. By creating intentional spaces for young parents and their children to connect, we are overcoming geographical and social barriers, ensuring these young families can actively engage with their community rather than being sidelined by it.
Towards the end of last year, we took several of our young parents and their tamariki to the Auckland Zoo. On the surface, it was a day of seeing animals. In reality, it was about building social capital through peer engagement. The babies and the animals acted as a natural bridge, allowing parents to share experiences and realise they are not alone.
These outings provide more than just a change of scenery; they offer a platform for strengthening self-efficacy and personal agency. By stepping into new environments, these young people are building the internal resilience needed to navigate the complexities of life.
The impact of this work was captured perfectly during a recent photo shoot we organized. While the goal was to cultivate positive shared experiences and whānau bonding, the real magic happened behind the scenes.
"The coolest thing was seeing two of the mums reconnect. They met for the first time at a budgeting course which was onsite, and met again at the photoshoot," says Youth Coach, Madi. "They have now exchanged details to plan playdates and social outings for themselves and their babies."
This is what "success" looks like when we review our engagement with young parents. It’s the expansion of prosocial networks that turns a lonely neighbourhood into a supportive village. It’s the creation of beautiful memories that fosters long-term mental wellness for both parent and child.
When you support these trips and activities, you aren't just funding a day out. You are funding the "village" that every parent needs. You are helping young people trade isolation for connection, and uncertainty for life skills and stable friendships.
Together, we are ensuring that no young parent has to face the world alone.
Our community and us
We have a great number of local businesses and organisations that support us in a variety of ways.
Our friends at the Warkworth Butchery have been supporting us for a number of years with sausages for our sausage sizzles. Sausage sizzles are a great way for our young people to learn a variety of things including planning, budgeting and logistics, as well as an opportunity to build confidence in talking to people they don't know. Not to mention the skills required for a great kiwi sausage sizzle!
We're delighted to tell you that Pak 'n Save Warkworth has joined us as a key supporter for our grocery needs, (which included our A&P Sausage Sizzle).
Thanks, Pak'nSave, for partnering with us to support the young people of our community.
Ways to support us
Our most recent A Mua Ake cohort was pretty chuffed to sell a piece of their hard work.
We teach young people practical skills to create confidence and resilience, build their CV and give them transferrable skills to increase their employability.
In A Mua Ake (Employment Preparation 8-12 week course) one of the learning frameworks we use is building a picnic table. These solid, sturdy tables are designed and built under the watchful eye and careful direction of Jon, one of our AMA tutors (who has an engineering background). Our young people learn lots of new skills in the process of building something practical and beautiful.
Up til now, the tables this programme's young people have built have been gifted to the Sheepworld Cafe to fulfil their outdoor seating needs.
Now that those needs are fulfilled, we were able to offer our latest picnic table for sale to the public. Listed at 5pm, it was gone by the time we checked our emails in the morning! (Thanks to Sandpit Yacht Club - what a great way to support us!)
If you're looking for ways to support our community's young people, here are some sweet ideas:
- Let us know if you can give a young person work experience at your business for a day, a few days or even a week. Getting out into real workplaces is vital for their learning and great for their CV.
- Come on board as a local sponsor, and join other awesome local businesses who create social impact within their community.
- Join the 1000@10 Club. This group of people simply donates $10 per month through our website. While it doesn't seem like much, with this club steadily growing, we receive thousands of dollars per year from this particular group of supporters.
Get in touch if you want to talk more about what partnering with us could look like: sarahwilson@springboard.org.nz
We'd love to talk.
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