We’re very excited to report that Burdekin has been successful in obtaining a number of grants that will have tremendous impact on our young people’s lives.
A grant from Canada Bay Cluband a separate grant from Club Fivedock RSL. The money will be donated to Burdekin’s Youth Support Fund.
Burdekin’s Youth Support Fund aims to be responsive to the needs of our young people, by funding a number of initiatives they have requested, to allow them to live their best lives.
Requests are made by our young people to the Youth Support Fund for financial assistance and these are assessed by our staff every month. Such requests could include a request for $279 from a 16-year-old girl for spectacles, so that she can continue her higher education.
The funds donated to the Youth Support Fund are solely dedicated to supporting young people in their endeavour to become independent.
A grant from Community Building Partnership – to pay for the renovation of three Burdekin office meeting rooms including the installation of partition doors, so that the space is more welcoming and accessible to young people, family and the local community. The grant covers the purchase and installation of partition doors.
The front desk area prior to the partition walls being installed.
The partition walls being installed.
The partition walls fully installed.
Partition walls being installed to create a separate training room.
The partition walls in place.
The partition walls painted, and a new training room ready to be used.
The Community Building Partnership team administers the NSW Community Building Partnership Program on behalf of the Premier’s Department. The Program aims to create more vibrant and inclusive communities by supporting community infrastructure projects that encourage community participation, inclusion, and cohesion.
A grant from theGolden Stave Foundation – to pay for a ‘Burdekin Camp’ for our young people.
Burdekin Camps provide the opportunity for our young people to laugh and find joy in this world. The children and young people Burdekin works with have been exposed to a high degree of trauma in their short lives.
While at camp, the young people engage in physical activities – from skiing to fishing, climbing a wall, building a camp fire, to making damper. Burdekin staff creatively weave discussions and activities with the young people around important life lessons they need to address – from keeping their room clean, cleaning their teeth and planning their day. These are simple life lessons that build up their transferable skills, which they’ll require back in the real world.
Would you like to make a donation to our Youth Support Fund?
You can help by supporting the Burdekin Youth Support Fund too. The funds donated are solely dedicated to supporting young people in their endeavour to become independent.
Did you know that you can become a Northern Beaches Hero and choose to fundraise for The Burdekin Association in the Beach2Beach Charity Fun Run and Festival on Sunday August 25?
All you have to do is go to the fundraising section, click on start fundraising and scroll down to select your favourite charity (Burdekin!) You have the option to register, start fundraising (easily set up your own fundraising page) or make a donation (sponsor a fundraiser or give directly to your charity).
The family friendly event offers three course options, catering to everyone from serious runners to families: a 14km route from Dee Why Beach to Newport Beach, a 6km route from Warriewood to Newport Beach, and a 3km route from Mona Vale to Newport Beach. The event promises an awesome atmosphere with live music, international food and fun activities for the kids all at the finish line.
We are also delighted that our community partner the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles is supporting us again too!
Keep in mind for next year that The Burdekin Association also registers for the infamous City2Surf, which this year took place on Sunday August 11. Described as ‘The World’s Largest Fun Run’, this epic 14km course takes you from Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach with a great party atmosphere. The 2023 event hosted 70,000 participants with over $2.9 million already raised for over 400 charities. Participants need to be very organised for this fun run and register early as it is guaranteed to sell out!
The whole family can join in.
Join us
We would like to invite you – friends, family, colleagues, partners and kind strangers to join us. Some of you will perhaps already be signed up or intending to just for the fun of it, and we ask that you consider joining our team and helping us to fundraise for our young people.
We think fun runs are a particularly great and risk-free way to raise money for your favourite charity. We also like them because:
Anyone can participate
It is great fun
It’s achievable for everyone
It is a shared experience with the community
If you want to get fit, it is a motivation to do so
If you want to raise funds for charity, it’s a great motivation to do so
It’s a great opportunity for making friends
It is less cost prohibitive than many other events
It connects us to the cause – youth homelessness
It promotes physical, social and emotional wellbeing
It promotes feelings of support and inclusion
What’s not to like? Would you consider joining us?
Some people find it challenging to ask for support for their fundraising efforts – but if you don’t ask, then people don’t know about it. Take Burdekin for example, we don’t like having to ask all the time, but without money coming in from friends, family, partners and philanthropists, we would never reach our fundraising goals.
As soon as you have committed to the event, tell your network of friends, family and colleagues about your efforts to run, walk, skip, hop – whatever way you want to roll – your way. We can help you with this email template that you can send to your contacts to ask them to support your fundraising efforts.
Email template
Dear (donors name),
I have exciting news! This August I have registered to participate in the Beach2Beach Fun Run and Festival (and/or) the City2Surf to raise money for a charity that is close to my heart.
The Burdekin Association offer an incredible service to children, young people and their families. They are passionate about creating solutions to solve the problem of youth homelessness in our community.
I hope that you will consider sponsoring me to participate in (name of run). Race entry fee is not part of my fundraising goals and I have paid for that up front. 100 per cent of all funds raised will go directly towards The Burdekin Association to help fund their support and responses to children, young people and their families.
Please find a link to my fundraising page: (insert link)
Thank you so much for your consideration,
Sincerely (participant’s name)
For health, wellbeing and a great cause!
How to get started
Personalise your fundraising page: if there is an option to personalise your fundraising page – make sure you do it – add photos and other relevant details. People also love hearing from you – a short video or regular updates to your your page and socials, sharing your progress.
Entry fee: if you are concerned that people won’t support you because running is your hobby – make it clear that you are paying the entry fee yourself. Consider also donating to your own event, to start the ball rolling.
Friends and family: close friends and family have your back, so consider asking them to start the ball rolling with donations – a fundraising page that already has donations is more likely to receive more – strange, huh?
Social media: don’t be afraid to post to your social media networks – again, people can’t donate if they don’t know. If people don’t want to donate, they can just keep scrolling. Post regular updates, one post on your social channels may not be enough to reach many people in your network. Ask your contacts if they would be willing to share your fundraiser too. Ask the charity you are supporting (hopefully Burdekin) do give you a shoutout too – it all adds up!
Thanking people: please make sure to thank people for their support – it only takes a second and goes a long way!
After the event: you would be surprised how many donations come in after the event, make sure to update people after the event via email, text message and/or socials.
Team Burdekin
For the Beach2Beach Fun Run and Festival, teams of twenty-five people or more receive a guaranteed 25 per cent cash back to the charity they are supporting – the more people we can get on Team Burdekin – the more money we can raise for local youth! Team members will also receive a Team Burdekin t-shirt and if there is enough interest, we could organise group training sessions and a bus to the start line!
In the past we have been the very lucky beneficiaries of our partners’ fundraising efforts. In 2023, Manly Warringah District Club raised $8,262 for the Burdekin Association. If you would like your organisation to participate in any event, of which The Burdekin Association would be a beneficiary, would be delighted. Please let us know how we can help you with this, and as always, we are incredibly grateful for any and all support received.
Registration
There are a number of ways to register.
You can sign up as part of our team by selecting Team Burdekin in the registration process, or
You can register to support Burdekin and select – no to team.
If you are an organisation, you might have your own team set up and can still support Burdekin
Sponsor a runner – support a friend, colleague, or family member
If you’re reading this, you are most likely someone who already knows why giving back matters and you most likely share our concern about social issues, including youth homelessness, and may want to do something about it. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and it is difficult to know where to start.
Many, rightly believe, that it is our moral obligation to look after those less fortunate in society. But, did you know that people who give back tend to be happier, healthier and live longer?
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
Chinese proverb
The power of giving back
Volunteering your time, energy, attention, expertise and financial assistance doesn’t just make the world a better place, it also makes you better as a person. You could be the most successful person in the world, but what does it mean if we don’t use it to make a difference and share with others? True fulfillment in life comes from lifting each other up.
In times of uncertainty, nurturing empathy and kindness buffer us from the various negative narratives around us. In fact, being kind and altruistic can offer a solution to many of the problems we face as a society.
Kindness: The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. From a survival point of view, kindness makes sense – we have evolved to understand that kindness and cooperation means inclusion and safety.
Empathy: Humans are hard-wired for empathy. It helps us to connect with and respond to our babies, but it is also a skill that develops over time and is why, perhaps, some people are more empathetic than others.
Kindness and empathy are good for us as a species and because of this, we intuitively know that our happiness depends on the happiness of others.
Altruism: True altruism is the unselfish concern for other people, doing things out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons. Altruism is about reducing another’s suffering, without expecting anything in return.
Kindness is contagious: If you dropped a single pebble into still water, the water would ripple outward in widening circles. Kindness contagion is much like the ripple effect of the pebble and the water. Even just witnessing an act of kindness motivates us towards acts of kindness ourselves.
The ripple effect of giving.
Health benefits of giving
‘Helpers high’ refers to the feel-good chemicals our body releases when we do something good – release endorphins (oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine) – that make us feel good and therefore are ways of supporting our own wellbeing too.
As mentioned, we have evolved to understand that acts of kindness and altruism improve wellbeing and foster social connections – making us both personally happier and stronger and more resilient as a community. Doing good, makes you feel good, and because it is contagious, we do more good.
Wellbeing: Small and large acts of kindness help reduce stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness and increases our levels of life satisfaction, happiness and self-esteem, diverting our attention away from ourselves, giving us a sense of purpose. We can have all the success in the world, but if we don’t share the success with others – what does it matter? We need a community to belong to – something that is bigger than us.
Physical health: Giving back may also improve our physical health by lowering blood pressure, strengthening our immune system, staving off disease and lowering cortisol levels. Ultimately, helping us to live longer, happier, healthier lives!
Sometimes we will never know the impact we have had on someone’s life – so, do it anyway.
You might never know how much your support means to someone.
Ways to give back:
Give time: get hands-on, we are always looking for volunteers to help us make a difference.
Expertise: do you have a special skill or service that could help us? Get in touch.
Partner: would you like to partner with us to solve youth homelessness?
Be a carer:Burdekin foster carers, care for children and young people in a variety of settings.
At Burdekin, we believe in the power of community and the impact of collective effort. Recently, we experienced a great example of this when the amazing team of 60 Ben & Jerry’s volunteers from all across Australia and New Zealand joined us for their Community Volunteer Day. Their hard work and dedication made a significant difference in the lives of the young people we support. We couldn’t be more grateful.
Transforming homes, one brushstroke at a time
In the Inner West, the Ben & Jerry’s volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work on one of our properties, making it feel like a true home for the two young people in our care. From assembling furniture, painting walls, relaying pavers and sprucing the garden, their efforts have transformed the space, creating a warm and welcoming environment.
Bringing New Life to Our Gardens
On the Northern Beaches, the Ben & Jerry’s crew tackled the overgrown garden with enthusiasm and energy. They weeded, planted mature trees, laid down mulch in the garden beds, created a herb garden, sanded and painted outdoor garden furniture and assembled a lovely outdoor garden setting. Thanks to their hard work, the outdoor space now looks inviting and beautiful – a perfect place for the young residents to relax and feel at home.
Supporting Young People on their Journey to Adulthood
Both of these properties are currently home to young people aged 16 and 17 who are in the process of leaving supported care and transitioning into independent living and adulthood. These young individuals aren’t completely ready to be independent, and having a supportive, nurturing environment is crucial. The efforts of Ben & Jerry’s staff and volunteers have enhanced these spaces, making them better places for these young people to continue receiving the support they need.
Celebrating a Meaningful Partnership
Burdekin is immensely grateful for the partnership we have with Ben & Jerry’s. Their volunteer work has improved our properties and shown the young people in our care that they are valued and supported by their community.
Together, we can continue to empower young lives and build a brighter future for everyone.
To read more about volunteering opportunities with Burdekin, click here.
We love nothing better than a good Aussie barbecue and the timeless sausage sanga! Unless, of course, you are vegetarian or vegan, in which case you’ll enjoy vegan sausages.
Why not make it a block party and invite the whole neighbourhood, make it a celebration of food, culture and community? Even bring your own twist to the classic snag and celebrate diversity and culinary traditions in your community!
A block party BBQ is great way to bring people together, while raising money and awareness for a cause that is close to your heart – such as youth homelessness.
Planning your BBQ
Planning a community Block party BBQ takes a little planning, but not much! Consider hosting your event at a particular time of year:
Park, beach, street – public spaces, just check with your local council to see if you need a permit!
Your local farmers market, school fete or sports club event.
Spread the word
You might have access to a WhatsApp group for people in your community – let them know about your event! Spread the word via friends, family, neighbours and ask any groups that you are involved with – school, a sports club, a community club, RSL and your employer to share your fundraiser – they might even support the event in some way.
Share the event on your socials, ask your local radio and/or paper for a free advertisement slot. If you use social media, please tag us so we are aware of your posts and can share them if appropriate.
If you love organising these sorts of events, you might like to contact any businesses in your area to help and people generally do like to help if they know that it’s for a good cause, especially if they can get a shout out for it too! You could organise a raffle at the BBQ too.
Employer involvement
Don’t be afraid to ask your employer to assist – most organisations today do want to be involved in corporate fundraising for a number of reasons:
Good publicity
Morale boosting
Social responsibility
Corporate fundraising is a great way for organisations to show that they are committed to the community and to causes that matter – some employers will eagerly back you and some will even seek to get involved themselves and pay for volunteer days. Ask your employer about payroll giving and dollar matching!
We acknowledge the Aboriginal people of the Cadigal and Gayamaygal Clans. We acknowledge the Country on which we live, work, and gather as being Aboriginal land.
We acknowledge the lands, waterways and skies that are connected to Aboriginal people. We honour them and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
We respect their rightful place within our communities, and we value their ancient cultural knowledge and practices.
We deeply respect that this will always be Aboriginal land and we will honour and follow the first peoples’ values in caring for the Country and for preserving their culture.
We deeply value that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest living culture in the world and we will continue to work with their peoples and communities to ensure their cultures endure and remain strong.
