Summer 2025

Is it even possible, in a world filled with so much negativity, conflict, intolerance, to believe that hope exists?

I have recently spent focussed time working alongside some of our young people in their programme. Considering what many of them have been through, or are navigating, we continue to see outcomes that many would suggest are 'against the odds'. You'll read about a group of 16 year olds who have doubled down in an effort to achieve NCEA level 1. For the first time our Alternative Education programme had 6 silver Duke of Edinburgh awards and 7 bronze awards. We are seeing young people achieve their licences, reconcile relationships, raise their babies and get into employment.

This is possible for two reasons: 1) Our young people are resilient, they do believe for more, they have dreams, they want to find success and 2) Our staff love our young people, and that love drives them to champion, challenge, create opportunities and find ways to support them to overcome the things that are preventing success.

It may seem that hope is hard to find in the world... but I just need to look at what our young people are moving towards... and hope is not hard to find here!

As we move into the festive season, and begin to plan for 2026, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you. For your belief, prayers, friendship, awhi, financial support and for cheering on the young people in this community...

Ka mau te wehi e te whānau, Meri Kirihimete me ngā mihi o te Tau Hou.

Dan

Finding Her Place: Gabby’s Journey at Kindercare Learning Centre

When Gabby first stepped through the doors of Kindercare Learning Centre in Warkworth, she was nervous. This was her first real job, and the world of Early Childhood Education felt huge and unfamiliar.

It was a steep learning curve, but Gabby stayed open, curious, and committed. In her first weeks, Gabby worked in the infants’ area. Rocking babies to sleep, learning their rhythms, changing nappies, Gabby discovered just how much care and focus it takes to look after the smallest children.

After a few months, she moved into working with the older children, and with that shift came new challenges and new rewards. She found she preferred it as it was easier to communicate with children who could talk back to her! One of her most important roles now is supporting a little boy with diverse learning needs.

“It’s been a challenge to get him to engage with me,” Gabby says. “Sometimes I just watch him from a distance because if he notices me, he won’t be happy! But every week he is becoming more and more familiar with me.”

Her Centre Director, Unay, has seen the connection slowly grow. “Gabby is actually working with one of our diverse learner children, and she’s responsible for keeping this little boy engaged and playing. It’s not just anyone we’d pair with him. It’s someone who can build relationships with children.”

Learning in the Real World

What Gabby is discovering is that working with children is about far more than keeping them busy. It’s about understanding who they are, seeing what they need, and earning their trust, one patient moment at a time.

Over the past year, Kindercare has welcomed four young women from Springboard into casual roles, giving them space to learn, grow and contribute. The Kindercare team see their centre as a powerful learning ground.

“It’s the best place to learn,” says Unay. “You’re navigating health and safety, children’s emotions, teamwork, relationships. You’re communicating with parents. And you’re also teaching children.”

Gabby didn’t walk in with a guaranteed job. She went through the interview process like anyone else, took a risk, and stepped into something completely new. The team supported her to rise to the challenge while still holding her to the same expectations as any staff member.

“We set expectations,” says Unay. “We don’t just assume they know what’s expected of them. We want to set them up for success. If there’s an issue, we address it on the spot. When they leave here, they’ll go and work somewhere else. We need to ensure they’re set up for success there, too.”

Looking Ahead

An authentic workplace with positive and encouraging role models is vital for our young people to begin unlocking their futures.

One of the 4 young women from Springboard who joined the Kindercare team is now starting the journey of gaining her Early Childhood Education qualification, making the most of the opportunities offered through the job.

Whether or not the other 3 choose to create a career here, we are so excited for the journey they're on, the skills they're learning and the inspiration and support they're receiving from a local employer!

In her first weeks, Gabby worked in the infants’ area. Rocking babies to sleep, learning their rhythms, changing nappies, Gabby discovered just how much care and focus it takes to look after the smallest children. It was a steep learning curve, but Gabby stayed open, curious, and willing to try.

Learning in the Real World

Gabby didn’t arrive ready-made for the job. She went through the interview process like anyone else, took a risk, and stepped into something completely new. The team supported her to rise to the challenge while still holding her to the same expectations as any staff member.

Looking Ahead

An authentic workplace with positive and encouraging role models is vital for our young people to begin unlocking their futures.

One of the 4 young women from Springboard who joined the Kindercare team is now starting the journey of gaining her Early Childhood Education qualification following the opportunities offered through the job.

Every year we are blown away by the community support that rallies around our annual fundraiser. This year there was a deeper sense of this with so many making contributions financially, alongside local businesses supporting our event.

Of course we want to honour the team at Kennards Hire and Northwood Developments Ltd who matched every dollar given up to $100,000.

This year we raised $237,444!

Dinner guests were hosted by the young people who served tables, distributed platters, hosted, helped set up and pack down and even emceed the evening. Vision was cast, stories were told and memories were shared by those that spoke.

One of the young people that was so scared of hosting a table of "strangers" found the courage to introduce herself to the guests, and in that found a confidence and a love for hosting and serving, so much so that she wanted to own the whole room, not just her allocated table.

The last words can go to a young person who wrote recently "thank you for your support, it means so much. Springboard has been a lifeline for me, and a safe space where I can find myself and my way forward in life."

THANK YOU!

;

people potential

a youth services collaboration

"We have a young man, father of two, who had lost all kind of hope when I met with him months ago. Low mood, depression, no eye contact, no real thinking about what he'd like to do.

He's been coming every week. He's just a different person. He's had a total turnaround since engaging in study."

James - Youth Coach

The beginning of this year was a challenge for our Youth Services Team. A successful collaboration in 2024, that saw a number of our young people gain an education qualification, was not able to continue in the same way, so the team looked for other solutions.

Our first stop was directly supporting our young people to engage with online learning platforms. We don't often share stories about things that don't work. Not because it never happens, but because we spend a lot of time teaching our young people to celebrate their success, and sharing that success with you.

In this instance, the team led by Youth Services Manager Deejay, reviewed the education element of their programme after two terms. "At the end of term two, when we had a review with our team, we all agreed it wasn't working. It just wasn't successful."

Little did we realise that a chance conversation with a youth services provider in Whangarei held the answer. Deejay says "I just asked them how they approached education, because it has been really rough for us this year, and she suggested People Potential."

"We thought we'd take our young people up to Wellsford given People Potential are based in Whangarei, however with the size of our cohort, they offered to send two tutors down to us here in Warkworth, every week."

"The kids don't listen to mum and dad, but as soon as someone else says it, it's vital! The kids turn up and they're willing to engage, which is the big difference from the start of the year."

"Having People Potential here means the Youth Coaches can focus on coaching and supervising, while the tutors do the actual teaching. It's just been incredible. We are so blessed."

"We've had five young people gain their NCEA Level 1 and two young people gain NCEA Level 2. They've worked so hard! Toward the end of Term 4, People Potential provided more support, coming down twice a week. For our young people in this programme who are only on site once a week, it was a big step to commit to coming in twice a week and really put the work in to get over the line. They did it and we are so proud of them."

"We have one young person who left school because of anxiety. She has told us "I've never worked this hard."
She is going on holiday for a few weeks and one of the first things she did was ask "What do I need to do to keep up with my work?"
She has proactively been doing work in advance so that she can go away, which is a pretty adult concept."

Deejay - Youth Services Manager

People Potential Tutor, Api, with some of our young people.

Youth Coach Kerbeigh is based in Albany and works with a number of young women who attend Vanguard School. Her engagement with these young women has been a highlight of 2025.

Here it is in her own words:

Every year, Vanguard Grad continues to go above and beyond and it always amazes me. Witnessing a small school with such strong school spirit is a real privilege. From the Pasifika performance, to Kapa Haka, to the student-led speeches and the final all-in school haka, the day is consistently filled with so much manaakitanga.

This year has been particularly special. Biella (second from the right) has achieved some incredible things, especially graduating as Deputy Head Girl. She has led with integrity, compassion, kindness, and joy, and it has truly been a privilege to watch her grow.

Another personal highlight for me was seeing one of my Year 12 clients, Tiaarere (left) lead part of the Kapa Haka performance with such confidence and strength. Watching her thrive in front of such a large audience was really moving.

I work alongside schools in the area to assist any students who may benefit from extra support, whether that’s around home circumstances, attendance, relationships with peers or teachers, academics, or general wellbeing.

Being someone in their corner is something I value deeply, and I’m always happy to collaborate with schools to ensure young people feel supported.

How counselling can change more than just one life...

We recently had a young person join our counselling programme, spending some one-on-one time with our counsellor. Her mother would regularly receive emails from school about her child's poor attitude, disruptive behaviour, bad manners, and thoughtlessness. Choosing counselling was a step in looking for coping tools and support for her child.

After a few sessions with our counsellor, this parent received 2 emails from different teachers at the school with compliments for their child, remarking on the change in attitude, the motivation and attention in class, and the improved behaviour.

"Joining in class discussions, supporting other students, positive manner, polite, dedication, creativity, enthusiasm - all these words were used by these teachers to describe her."

This is how your support makes a difference for not just one young person, but all the people in that young person's world: their siblings, parents, teachers, classmates, friends.

"She is calmer, relaxed, supportive of her siblings. She is happy and improving at school and home and that's all I really wanted. The only thing that had changed was seeing Tania [our Springboard Counsellor]."

Counselling is a programme that's only possible because of our community support. Your donations directly fund the costs of this programme.

In addition we are thankful for grants and support from the Rodney Health Charitable Trust, the Christine Taylor Mental Health Foundation, Catholic Caring Foundation and Lister Presbyterian Health.

Thank you for helping us change young people's lives.

Support Sheepworld, support our young people.

We are well and truly into summer now, and our farm babies are growing...

Every visit (and every purchase in the gift shop) supports us to fund our programmes.

Our gift shop has a beautiful range of gifts and treats. From stocking fillers to those more meaningful gifts for that super-special person in your life, why not pop in and check out the selection!

Ever thought about gifting an Annual Family Pass to your favourite family? You support us, and your family gets to visit the farm throughout the year. Come on in and have a chat - we've got all the details.