Volunteering

Becoming a Board member

With a not-for profit organisation such as Taldumande, it can be a very rewarding experience to participate and one which provides you with opportunities to:

• commit to a local cause
• assisting the organisation in delivering services to young people who are homeless or families where young people are at risk of homelessness
• develop leadership, other skills and increase your understanding of community organisations network with others of similar interests and experience volunteerism and philanthropy
• participate in local events and represent the organisation within the community

What are Board members responsible for?

Board members are responsible for the governance aspects of the organisation and its activities. These include: adhering to relevant government legislation, management and reporting of the organisations finances, staff employment and being accountable to its many stakeholders.

Board members provide the leadership, guidance and support for the organisation ensuring it stays true to its Vision and Mission statements.

Board members hold a position of trust by ensuring the organisation is accountable to the clients, community and funders. And its activities can include strategic planning, development and reviewing, financial planning and performance reviewing.

What do Board members do?

Provide a range of individual skills, experience and knowledge to assist with promotion, fundraising, policy making, financial management, employment, advocacy, strategic planning and development and linking Taldumande to the community as opportunities arise.

For staff within the organisation:  the board provides a leadership role which guides and supports, whilst ensuring the services delivered remain within the Mission and Vision of the organisation.
Individual members often have expertise and knowledge which can mentor staff or provide ‘in-house’ consultancy advice.

For the local community and the public: board members are often the organisations most passionate supporters and the “face” of the organisation.

What is required from you as a Board member?

Commitment to:

• being actively involved in aspects of leadership in governing the organisation and a genuine wish to participate and learn about community organisations (if not experienced)
• the Mission and Vision of the organisation and its promotion in the community
• a minimum of 4 hours per month for board meetings and activities
• a term of service for 1 to 2 years
• keeping informed and up to date by reading board meeting minutes, reports and any other necessary meeting papers
• understanding the wider aspects of how the organisations works including services provided its staff members
• understanding the organisations Constitution in regards to legislation and financial requirements
• attending the organisations functions and representation at community functions
• taking responsibility for particular areas of work in which you have expertise, which may mean involvement in working parties, sub-committees or mentoring staff
• being  available to approve relevant documents including responsibility for approving the organisation’s budget and regular internet banking transactions for payments (rotational)

What are some of the skills and strengths you might you have?

The skills are varied for individual members and complement each other when participating in the governance of the organisation.

• An understanding of the unique benefits and challenges in the non-for-profit community sector
• Ability to be a good team player
• Understanding of meeting procedures (or wanting to learn)
• Reliability
• Knowledge of (or wanting to learn) relevant government legislation
• Financial, business, employment, strategic planning, legal, marketing and promotion or fundraising skills
• Passion for community volunteering at a leadership level and eagerness to participate and learn
• Good in communications and developing relationships
• Advocacy and lobbying

What is the process for becoming a board member?

Current Board members or the manager may approach you if the organisation is recruiting members.
STEP 1 (process up to 1 month)
By contacting the organisation and speaking with the Manager on (02) 9953-1765 or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Manager will provide information, let you know if a vacancy exists and collect some initial background information and your personal contacts.

If a vacancy exists on the Board of Management or assistance is required on our sub-committees or working parties, the manager will:

• arrange for a time to meet personally with you and provide information and visits to the service premises
• forward your contact information and expression of interest to the Chair who will contact you

STEP 2  (process up to 3 months)
By invite of the Chair you are able to attend 2 to 3 meetings of the Board to allow:

• you to assess if our organisation is a good ‘fit’ for what you are seeking to be involved with
  the current Board members to assess if you are a good ‘fit’ for the organisation
• A Board member Orientation Information folder is provided to you during this time and the manager and / or board members will extend invitations for you to meet personally at suitable times.

These meetings are not a requirement but do offer you the opportunity for learning about the organisation at a more in depth level.

STEP 3 At the 3rd Board of Management meeting attended OR at the AGM you will be nominated and voted in as a member of the Board.

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Join the Fundraising Sub Committee

Interested? Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Other volunteer opportunities

• mentoring

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Organise a Fundraiser

Organising a fundraising event for Taldumande is easy!  Whether you are considering organising a small, private event or something larger and more public, you will be working towards helping homeless young people and promoting awareness around this important issue. We can offer you a range of advice and resources to help make your event as successful as possible, so if you are thinking of planning an event, please get in touch with us either on 02 9953 1765 or by email on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ideas for your fundraising event?  Why not try a

• morning tea or brunch at the office or home
• concert in your town or suburb
• cocktail party
• speaking event or roundtable with your local council
• walk or mini marathon with your local sports clubs
• touch footy game between businesses
• dinner for your friends or business colleagues
• dance against homelessness’ for your university or graduating class

The possibilities are endless...

Ways that we can help

We have a number of resources available that you might find useful. For instance, we can provide you with statistics, fact sheets and even speech notes and ideas. We can also provide you with brochures to distribute or display at your event.  If you anticipate a relatively large audience at your event, there is always the chance that we can tee up one of our caseworkers or Board Members to act as a guest speaker or simply to attend and support your event.

Remember, no matter what size event you are planning, you are also welcome to contact us to add it to the events calendar that will be available on our website. Simply email us a short description of the event making sure to include the date, time and location.

Other things to think about when organising your fundraising event

Do you have a suitable venue? Will it be big enough for the number of people who might attend? If your event will be taking place in a public space, please be sure to get the appropriate approval from the relevant authorities.

What food, beverages and other equipment will you need? You might want audio visual equipment and may need banners or signs to let people know what’s happening.

How will you publicise your event? You can do this in several ways; through your local community networks, using posters or advertising. You might want to spread the word using the Internet or through an article in the local newspaper.

If there are costs involved in holding an event, you can think about asking local businesses to help. Many companies would be happy to sponsor an advert or food provisions for a good cause. Alternatively they can help publicise the event with their clients.

If you do raise any funds, please be sure to return them to us.  Cheques or money orders should be made out to Taldumande Youth Services and send to PO Box 994, Neutral Bay 2089.

It’s also nice after an event to take the time to thank everyone who helped and perhaps agree to work together again next year.

Best of luck and happy planning!

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Business and Corporate

How You as a Business or Corporate can help!

The benefit to You

• By helping at risk and vulnerable families and youth who are homeless in our community, you provide the opportunity for your company and employees to be involved with a social responsibility project.
• Promotion to your customers and stakeholders of your support of a community initiative assisting young people who are homeless or at risk.
• Acknowledgement on our website with a link to your company and in our Annual Report.
• All donations are tax deductible.

The benefit to our young people and their families

Families breaking up and young people moving out of home are preventable. Parents and extended family members can be at a loss of how to best support their teenagers through very difficult and challenging times.

Our workers provide emotional support and time to work together with family members in: developing strategies for building relationships with challenging and at risk teenagers aiming to prevent them leaving home, advocating with government and community based agencies to access the necessary resources for themselves and their teenagers, and assisting with accommodation and support options where young people are placing family members or themselves at risk of harm.
For young people, Taldumande provides a range of accommodation and individual support services tailored to their own needs. Support workers assist and encourage young people to identify and reach their personal goals, covering areas such as education, employment, physical and mental health, living skills, housing and positive social involvement with their peers and community.

The benefit to the community

When young people turn their lives around, they can become independent, productive members of our community.  A small investment in young people who are disadvantaged and at risk or homeless today, can prevent major dysfunction and community cost in the future.

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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.

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Sponsor a Project

How could your Company contribute?

By contributing towards any one of the major projects below.

Youth and Family Program $160,000 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 - 20 family members and their children at risk, at any one time.

Now we can only provide basic telephone support and referral, with minimal face to face support as a very limited response to families in the northern Sydney area, who would benefit from early intervention support.

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 it’s 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.

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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.

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