Our Programs
CURRENT FOUNDATION PROGRAMS
Our four foundation programs provides people with a chance to participate in the community and make a difference. Through Kickstart for Sam, we can make provide opportunities for kids to be able to:
- learn to swim;
- play soccer;
- learn a musical instrument or
- partake in the martial arts program – Confidence for Kids.
We are open to new ideas and would love volunteers to share their skills to create new programs and opportunities that can benefit local kids.
Intensive Swimming
We are surrounded by wonderful waterways and beaches. However, some children have not had the opportunity to learn how to swim.
Enabling these children to swim can be life-changing and life saving!
The YMCA program runs over a term and aims to provide ‘survival skills’ within this time. Our scholarship typically runs across 2-3 terms to consolidate gains in swimming ability.
The benefits of learning to swim are first and foremost, safety. Learning a new skill also helps to build confidence.
Feeling comfortable and confident in and around the water alleviates future anxieties. It is as skill that will stay with them and hopefully will enhance their overall quality of life.
The kids participating in the program lap it up!
Soccer Coaching
Jeff is a leading children’s soccer coach in Australia. He has played for Australia at schoolboy level in the 1990s. The enthusiasm Jeff generates in these children for soccer is widely respected around The Great Lakes.
Our scholarships enable children to attend both weekly school term clinics and school holiday clinics.
Most children attending these clinics go on to play football in local teams. There are so many benefits from being engaged in team sport, including:
- improved physical fitness
- improved hand/eye coordination
- teamwork
- perseverance
and of course they have FUN!
Our scholarships for these programs run for extended terms (beyond 1 year) for as long as we see continuing social benefit being delivered.
Guitar Lessons
Heidi Parsons is a talented music teacher who runs guitar tuition as one of our programs.
Learning to play the guitar and providing students with the ability to create music can have a remarkably positive impact on a child’s’ development.
The skill allows self expression, creativity and social interaction. It also teaches the art of discipline and perseverance.
The foundation also funds guitar hire. For students who enjoy it and wish to continue beyond 2 terms, we donate a guitar to them.
The scholarships continue for as long as we see continuing benefit to each child.
Confidence for Kids
The Confidence for Kids program is run by Colin Osborn. Over the years, we have seen a significant impact in the lives of the participants.
Sam was a very compassionate and thoughtful boy who trained with Colin Osborn at Forster Martial Arts at Club Forster. He was the boy who stuck up for the underdog or the child that was being bullied. For these reasons we will always be proud of him and his morals at such a young age.
The foundation gives children the opportunity to gain valuable skills and become confident. Confidence is such a vital life skill. Kids with confidence tend to make better decisions and are less likely to be swayed by their peers.
THE DIFFERENCE OUR PROGRAMS MAKE
Dear Col,
Both my autistic son and my niece who is fostered to my extended family, participated in your recent Confident Kids and Autism Skills Development programs run just after Easter. I would like to thank you and all your sponsors for offering this fantastic opportunity. Both of these children are at risk, have suffered trauma and struggle at school academically and socially. They have low self esteem, dislike trying ‘new activities’ as they have a fear of failure and have suffered from teasing and bullying. So it has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they worked one on one with you and your assistant.
They gave every activity a go and your positive feedback and encouragement spurred them on to keep trying each new ‘move’. Both of these children have recently expressed a lack of interest in sport, and are vulnerable, young teenagers who often feel unaccepted by their peers.
This program has been opportunistic as it has helped them both learn how to control and utilise their bodies, and revealed to them that they did have body strength and could master new skills.
It was heartening to see both children’s confidence and enthusiasm grow. They were both itching to return to the program the next day! Both children said they felt ‘happy’ when they were completing the sessions and it has helped them feel good about what they can do in a situation where they are trying to avoid conflict with others. The quiet location and individualised instruction from Summer and yourself, enabled both children to focus on the session without distraction or feeling self conscious.
It has been exciting to see both children’s resilience develop, and observe them taking on the positive feedback and encouragement that both you and Summer offered. My son is now wanting to continue to learn about self defence whilst my niece who lives 4 hours away, is also keen to resume Saturday sport.
Please extend my thanks to all of your sponsors, and your team that provided this wonderful opportunity for my son and niece. It has made a significant difference and I hope more children and people who struggle, have future opportunities to join these programs.
Juliet & Kieren