A faith-based charity is using the power of farm animals to help at-risk youths in Warkworth, north of Auckland.
Springboard purchased Sheepworld, an 11-hectare tourist attraction, last year.
Mentoring co-ordinator Sheralyn Cotton tells Wallace Chapman that they could only start to make the most of the space this year because Covid-19 restrictions had prevented that.
Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
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Springboard was established in 2002 by a Matamata couple who had a farming background but wanted to support young people, Cotton says.
"It started initially as an alternative education programme, teaching young people farming skills and it's pretty cool that we've sort of come full circle back into farming environment after 20 years of being in operation."
There are 10 programmes for youth, including mentoring with volunteers from the community, with prevention, intervention for offenders, and transition to better futures, she says.
"In Warkworth, we're really blessed to have an incredibly strong partnership with the police in our area, and have been significant contributors to the reduced youth offending rates over the last sort of 10-15 years that we've been working alongside [police].
There are many heart-breaking stories, she says, but they're proud to be able to be part of the solution.
Warning: this video contains references to addiction, violence, and self-harm.
"The young people come to us often with a raft of challenges sitting in their corner, whether that's from early trauma or difficult home circumstances," Cotton says.
"I was just thinking about one 17-year-old, who a while back we interviewed him on leaving and one of the questions was asking him about his future goals.
"He said 'well I didn't expect to still be here at 17, so I've never really thought much about the future, but now I can, now I can start thinking about what my future might look like'.
"He called in about a month ago just to tell us that he's got himself a job and he's drug-free and he's doing really well so those are the kinds of stories that we get to be a part of and it's pretty cool.
"I mean I think we sometimes describe ourselves as that change point, the point where young people can come and have doorways to a whole lot of different positive pathways opened up to them but it's really the bravery of the young people that takes them forward."
A big part of initiating that change is for at-risk youth to have someone believe in them when they struggle to do so themselves, she says.
"Our general manager Dan Gray, he often likes to say, kids just need two things, they need somewhere to be and somewhere to go.
"So I guess that's how we see our role here at Springboard; we are the somewhere to be, we give them a positive place, an environment to come and get that sense of belonging and then as they experience that, then they can find their positive pathway forward, they can find their somewhere to go."
And taking over Sheepworld has had a profound impact on students' wellbeing too, she says.
"Animals can have a real calming effect, so having access to the farm park right here is super incredible.
"I was just talking to our social worker earlier today and she was relating a story student who had had a particularly tough year, came out and spent a day in the farm park and on the way home just described it as the best day."
The team is excited for the future, she says, and thinking about what's in store for the next 20 years.
"Our aim is to create a youth development hub and to be known for upskilling young people with those valuable life skills and work skills that they need to set them up for those positive futures."
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- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
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- Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
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- OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
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