Workplace Giving

Workplace Giving for Employees

Workplace Giving is a way for employees to make a regular donation from their pay, to help young homeless people who turn to Taldumande Youth Services (TYS) on a daily basis.  We assist young people aged 15-22 (and their families) experiencing difficult and challenging times. We help them deal with the immediate crisis of being homeless and all the associated problems. Workplace Giving benefits everyone.

Sponsor a Project

How could your Company contribute?

By contributing towards any one of the major projects below.

Youth and Family Program $ 80,000 per year

The provision of specialist and qualified family support is essential in delivering assistance to families struggling with challenging life circumstances and children who are at risk of becoming homeless. It is also crucial in supporting the young people in our accommodation and outreach services who want to rebuild and strengthen their relationships with family or return home.

Early intervention, via our Youth and Family Program, is one of the most critical services we need to provide, yet we are in danger of having to abandon the program due to lack of funding.  Previously the program had two full time specialist staff, providing direct intensive support and assistance to 15- 0 family members and their children at risk, at any one time.

Groceries – $30,000 per year

This would provide daily grocery expenses for our 2 residential houses, feeding 30 young people each year. 
We provide nutritious foods which carry few preservatives, colourings and additives to prevent adverse affects and encourage young people to develop healthy eating life styles.

Furnishings and white goods $10,000

Taldumande aims to provide homelike environments with a reasonable standard of safety and comfort in the furnishings provided.  It ensures its two residential homes and the 4 independent single units can be furnished and maintained each year, providing accommodation to 35 young people.

Recreation Camps - $4000 per camp

Many of the young people with whom we work have not had the opportunity to experience what most of us would consider to be a normal part of growing up, a holiday. A time to experience some fun and relax, socialize and be part of group and visiting places we may not have been before. Taldumande aims to take young people on a local NSW ‘holiday’ each year for 4 days in the lead up to returning to school.

The support workers ensure young people remain physically and emotionally safe and arrange activities and a destination suitable to the group. In the past we have given young people the experiences of a farm stay with canoeing and horse riding and the Wollongong Resort with the beach, tennis, fishing, swimming and Jamberoo Park.

We hope to be able to continue to provide simple and low budget ‘holidays’ and whilst activities are a focus for the youth, support workers also focus on developing the young people’s personal, social and group skills with community based activities and group based night activities.

Client Financial Resources Project – $7000 per year

This project enables Taldumande to provide financial assistance and to purchase equipment or resource material for young people. This includes general information books, self-help books, sporting equipment, sexual health packages.  The resources assist in meeting the needs of our young people who often place themselves at great risk; need to develop self awareness; need to learn safe practices regarding socialising and sexual health; and need to learn techniques to navigate their way in the community.  Financial assistance needs are many and provides: school / TAFE or University expenses assistance, basic health and dental care, specialist counselling, clothing, employment related expenses and transport expenses.

The ‘Taldumande Van’- $10,000 per year leasing and running costs

Taldumande’s residential program (or Refuge) operates like any normal household with 5 young people. Daily appointments, school and job interviews, shopping and the weekend and holiday outings are the norm.

Feedback to you

On an annual basis, we will bring you up to date on the progress of our young people and what your donation has achieved.

Individuals

How you as an individual can help

The benefit to you

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will know you have helped a young person in your community who is in desperate need of support and/or accommodation.

The benefit to our young people

Our young people will receive the guidance and support they need, which most of us take for granted.  You could help them turn the corner to a happy, productive future.

The benefit to the community

When young people turn their lives around, they can become independent, productive members of the community.  A small investment in these young people can prevent major dysfunction and community cost in the future. 

Sponsor a young person 

How your donation will be used

Many of us don’t think twice about how much a haircut costs – or how good it is to see the delight on someone’s face when they receive a gift or an experience they couldn’t afford.   Most of us take for granted the value of a good basic education and a supportive family providing guidance and living skills.  The young people we assist often haven’t experienced this – and it means a lot for them to know that people care enough to help. 

Haircuts – $30 each

Personal care is often last on a young person’s priorities when homeless. Once a young person is accommodated we also focus on assisting them with personal care and feeling good about themselves.

Emergency Food Vouchers – $50 each

This provides emergency food assistance to young people living in the independent units where they may have experienced a crisis and are requiring some limited assistance.

Gift Program – $50 per gift

Purchasing gifts for our young residents’ birthdays, graduations, Christmas

Recreational Outings - $50-100 per outing

A donation of $100 would provide an outing for 5 young people accompanied by supervisory staff or $50 for an individual outing to a special event.  These weekend recreational outings assist young people to develop social skills and are essential for their general well-being – all part of creating happy memories for the future.

Client Resources – $100 each

These funds would enable us to purchase equipment and resource material for young people with very limited, if any, parental guidance.  This includes general information books, self-help books, sporting equipment, sexual health packages.  These resources assist in meeting the needs of our residents who often place themselves at great risk; need to develop self awareness; need to learn safe practices regarding socialising and sexual health; and to learn techniques to navigate their way in the community.

Basic clothing allowance pack – $150 each

For young people entering the crisis accommodation service, adequate clothing especially in winter time is a very real need. This allowance provides basic items required, ensuring the young person is properly clothed depending on the season.

Home Maintenance workshop – $200

This provides young residents and tenants with basic home maintenance skills and a personal ‘Tool Kit’ for basic maintenance.

Cooking on a Budget Workshop – $200

This provides young residents with an information and worksheet package which they complete with assistance from support staff, to provide the end result of a ‘dinner party’ for the house and their fellow residents.

Learning about balanced food intake, handling and storage of food and maintaining healthy eating patterns are essential life skills.

Set-up Packs - $200 each

This provides a welcome pack for each new resident with toiletries, a doona, pillow and sheet set – all essential items to foster personal hygiene and comply with Occupational Health and Safety policies.

Creative art workshop – $300 per workshop

Supplies for group workshop with 5 young people: focused on painting canvasses which they are able to hang in their bedrooms and throughout the house to make the accommodation ‘their own home’.  Supplies cover canvasses, paints and brushes and the workshops run over a course of a few weeks.

Groceries – $600 per week

This would provide daily grocery expenses for 2 residential houses.  We provide only nutritious foods which carry few preservatives, colourings and additives to prevent adverse affects.

Feedback to you

On an annual basis, we will bring you up to date on the progress of our young people and what your donation has achieved.