Time for Kids Newsletter Summer 2010

Summer 2010/2011

South Australia’s Governor and Patron of Time for Kids praises volunteers In celebrating its 50th year of providing care for children of disadvantaged families, Time for Kids recognises the vital importance of the contribution made by volunteers and their family members. As TFK Board President, Philip Scales, says, ’without our volunteer carers, we don’t have a charity’.

To honour the remarkable contribution of our volunteer carers, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia and Patron of Time for Kids, recently hosted a reception at Government House. (See back page for photos.)

‘...without our volunteer carers, we don’t have a charity.’

The Governor thanked the 70 guests by acknowledging the remarkable contribution volunteers provide to the South Australian community. In his speech, His Excellency highlighted some of the many achievements Time for Kids has reached during its 50 years of providing care to young South Australians. Each year, Time for Kids volunteer families throughout South Australia contribute more than 20,000 volunteer hours of respect, care, support, experience and acceptance for over 150 children involved in the program. Over the last 50 years, Time for Kids has supported 4,500 children.

According to The Advertiser ealier this year, there has been a 19% increase in the number of young people appearing in the State’s youth court. Time for Kids is a highly effective and proven early intervention strategy that helps to prevent young people from becoming involved in criminal or antisocial behaviour. The organisation was awarded a 2009 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention award for its work in this area.

One young person involved with Time for Kids recently said that he thought it should be called ‘Changing the world one child at a time’.

Debra & Owen Jones, with His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR Governor of South Australia

2010 ‘Man Alive’ Awards Time for Kids was thrilled to nominate our

Owen now picks up Andrew from school

volunteer, Owen Jones, for the 2010 Man Alive

every Thursday afternoon and they have

Awards. With his wife, Debra, Owen Jones has

started a collection of tools for Andrew so he

been a volunteer carer with Time for Kids since

has a sense of ownership.

January 2010. Since February, Owen and Debra have been caring for a 14-year-old young

A skilled craftsman, Owen recently worked

woman, Julie.

with Andrew to build a go-kart and they plan to make all sorts of other things in the future.

To accommodate Julie’s limited mobility, Owen

They also talk about school, giving Andrew

and Debra have made structural changes to

someone to confide his worries in.

their home. The monthly visits Julie enjoys with Owen and Debra have given her the chance

Owen is a very positive male role model who

to try new things, build her confidence and

shows how everyday men can demonstrate

increase her support network.

care and respect for young people, just by sharing their time. He is a great listener,

As well as sharing time with Julie, since July

provides sound advice, helps children to

2010 Owen has also been mentoring 12-year-

make good choices and provides children

old Andrew. Andrew has a passion for making

with reliability, integrity, time and respect.

things, but had very few tools of his own and no opportunity to pursue this interest.

The ‘Man Alive!’ Festival has been held annually since 2004 and celebrates the

Before being matched with Owen, Andrew had

positive contribution made by men in our

been running away from school and needed

community, while promoting men’s health

intensive individual attention and friendship.

and wellbeing.

Summer 2010/2011

Finding friendship on the footy field sharing his thoughts and questions. I found that

‘Are you going to school every day?’

one-on-one time with Michael was much more

‘No,’ he said. ‘Not every day.’

productive than when around everyone else.

When I tried to explain that finishing year 12 Because of this I decided that taking him to

would be a positive and achievable goal, he

the oval for a kick of the footy might be a good

looked at me in dismay. ‘Year 12? There won’t be

way to bring him out of his shell, and to help

anyone else left!’

strengthen our friendship. At first, conversation was limited, but after half an hour or so the

Since that day though, with my support and mum

questions started coming more frequently. By

and dad’s continual encouragement, Stephen has

the time we were walking home from the oval,

rarely missed a day of school. I believe he now

he was asking about everything and anything –

values school and more importantly, enjoys it.

with our shared love of footy, we’d finally found some common ground.

Stephen is very reserved when it comes to sharing the details of his home life. There are

Time for Kids volunteer Henry and his nephew

Henry and his family have been Time for Kids volunteers since 2005. At the 2010 Royal Adelaide Show, Henry spoke at the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of South Australia ‘Ladies Brunch’ about sharing his time with Stephen. The following is an excerpt from his speech.

Stephen first came to us back in 2005 as a painfully shy 9-year-old. I had little idea about the details of his home life – all I knew was that

Our regular trips to the oval gradually enabled

many reasons as to why this might be but it is

me to mentor Stephen in more important

clear that he likes to keep his time with us very

issues, such as his sporadic school attendance.

separate to his home life. Usually Stephen will

Due to his situation at home, there was

answer my knock on the door and quickly slam

nobody to encourage him to attend school.

the door behind him, not allowing me to see or

None of his siblings were going, so why should

speak to any of his family members.

he?

My family and I have been involved with It was a Friday afternoon when Stephen and I

Stephen for nearly five years now, and I’m

walked down to the oval with the footy. I made

really proud of the progress we’ve made with

sure we talked about all the usual stuff – footy,

him – whether it’s the way he now looks a

cars, whether he’d found a girlfriend yet! On

person in the eye when he shakes their hand,

the way home, I brought up his school, asking

or his much-improved school results. It’s been

whether he enjoyed it. He said it was okay, and

extremely rewarding showing him the sort of

that he had good mates to hang out with. Then

opportunities there are outside of the life he

I got to the most important question; one that

has at home, as well as just sharing good times

I already knew the answer to:

and fun.

Stephen was a young boy like I once was, but with a much less fortunate upbringing.

The first time I spoke to Stephen it was a Friday afternoon. When mum introduced us I put out my hand while looking him straight in the eye, just as my dad had taught me for so many years.

He tentatively put out his hand and shook mine, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground. In response to my ‘how are you mate?’, ‘good’ was the only word he could muster. This was indicative of the first couple of months with Stephen.

The first half an hour or so would be spent asking him simple questions with limited response.

The more time I spent with him at one time the more he would be willing and comfortable

As a child-focused organisation, Time for Kids is proud to endorse the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People’s ‘Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Care’. The Charter is a simple and clear statement of the rights that are important to the more than 2000 children and young people who are under the guardianship or in the custody of the Minister for Families and Communities in South Australia. For more information about the Charter, visit www.gcyp.sa.gov.au/charter-of-rights/ or phone the Time for Kids office on 8362 6311.

Kate Ellis visits Time for Kids

Summer fun for kids Summer is a hive of activity in the Time for Kids

Young footy fans are being treated to a

office, as staff and volunteers organise holiday

Christmas party at the Port Power club rooms,

and Christmas activities for the children in

where they’ll have the chance to meet their

our program. Our talented team of office

favourite players and watch them train. And the

volunteers have been busy doing everything

Adelaide Crows continue their generous support

from shopping for Christmas hampers for

with a collection of Christmas presents for the

families, sending invitations, to designing

children in our program.

flyers for corporate present drives.

We’re also getting ready for Clipsal 2011, as a Thanks to the wonderful support Time for Kids

group of lucky Time for Kids children will be

receives from the South Australian community,

invited to watch the race from the comfort of a

Time for Kids children are able to enjoy a range

corporate box.

of special activities, including the annual Christmas Party for Special Children. The Ladies

While it can take some time to find the best match

of Variety have provided movie tickets, United

for the children in our program, Time for Kids will

Way organised a Christmas party at the zoo

continue to work in partnership with the South

and the Rotary Club of Adelaide have provided

Australian community to make a practical and

tickets to their annual Magic Show.

positive difference for every child referred to us.

Sharing stories Time for Kids CEO Jo Wickes and Kate Ellis MP

The Federal Member for Adelaide, Kate Ellis MP, recently visited the Time for Kids office to learn more about the work Time for Kids is doing for children in South Australia.

An enthusiastic supporter of Time for Kids, Kate offered her continued support to the organisation and to the children and young people in our program.

The launch of ‘It’s about time: giving kids a break’ stories that illustrate the power of ordinary provided a wonderful chance to celebrate people to make a profound difference to the some of the stories of the children, families and

lives and futures of underprivileged children,

volunteers who have been involved with Time

by simply sharing their time with kids doing it

for Kids.

tough.

Authors Bunty Parsons and Di Maguire share

‘It’s about time’ is available for $30 from Time

a long association with Time for Kids – Bunty

for Kids – simply call our office on 8362 6311,

as a Time for Kids volunteer carer, and Di as

email us at anne@timeforkids.com.au or

a volunteer Board member. Together, they

download an order form from our website at

have crafted a moving collection of true

www.timeforkids.com.au

‘The care and support provided to these disadvantaged children is invaluable at ensuring that they have every opportunity to succeed in life,’ Kate said.

‘In addition, the time spent with these children and the friendships that are formed with volunteer mentors and families provide many in our community with worthwhile experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime.

‘I have no doubt that our community is stronger and more supportive as a result of the ongoing commitment that Time for Kids makes in investing in our community.’

Authors Bunty Parsons and Di Maguire, with Time for Kids President, Philip Scales and Youth Ambassador, Gavin Wanganeen

Summer 2010/2011

Gallery Over the past 12 months, Time For Kids has hosted a number of events to celebrate 50 years of service to disadvantaged children and families in South Australia.

Thanks to the generosity of all those who have donated money, time or resources to help us hold these events, our anniversary year has been a remarkable success.

Time for Kids has been able to reach out to the South Australian community, making sure that as many people as possible know who we are and what we do. Not only does this help us to raise much-needed funds, it ensures that those who need us can find us as easily as possible.

All of us at Time For Kids extend a huge thank you to all of you who have come along to celebrate with us, including the wonderful donors, volunteers, ambassadors and guests who have helped make 2010 such a success.

Thank you for helping us help children in South Australia - we couldn’t do it without you!

1. Peter Joy, Jan Beasley, John Riddell; and Fiona Smithson at ‘Lunch with the Girls’ at the Lion Hotel 2. Volunteer carers, Rudi and Gayle Hermsen and Shirlene and Ken Robertson at Government House 3. Time for Kids volunteer family, Ruby, Ian, Sandy and Ella Shaw at the lauch of ‘It’s About Time’ 4. ‘Lunch with the Girls’ table hosts (front) Pangie Findlay, Annabel Hill-Smith, Melinda O’Leary, Fiona Smithson, Kirsty Davies (Back) Kate Kain, Vickianne West, Col Hamilton, Georgina Hardy, Charlotte Moore, Jan Beasley and Jo Wickes 5. Volunteer carers, Brenda and Andy Kovaleff at Government House

Telephone: 08 8362 6311 Facsimile: 08 8362 6711 72 Fullarton Road, Norwood SA 5067 PO Box 932 Kent Town SA 5071 Email: info@timeforkids.com.au Web: www.timeforkids.com.au Our office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Please give us a call or call in - we’d love to see you.

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