The community of the Eurobodalla is being urged to donate to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal to help raise $1.9 million and support 1,550 disadvantaged children across the state.
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Funds raised will help the national children’s charity to support improvements in the educational outcomes of students in need.
Donations will fund The Smith Family’s out-of-school learning and mentoring support programs helping students in terms three and four this year.
Sadly there are huge educational inequalities that exist for the 1.1 million children and young people living below the poverty line in Australia.
Recent reports from the Australian Council for Educational Research show the gap in educational achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged students is around three years in the critical areas of reading, maths and science.
Without extra support, these children will fall further behind and be at risk of disengaging from their education all together.
Intervening early and providing ongoing support together with tailored learning opportunities is one of the most effective ways to help a child in need change their life. Giving children access to the programs and extra support they need to complete their education successfully will help prevent them from experiencing a lifetime of hardship.
The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal will raise funds help 10,000 children nationally access a range of learning support programs, including the charity’s reading program, its after-school Learning Clubs, and an online mentoring program for older students. These programs complement, and are in addition to, what is offered by schools – with most support provided outside of school hours.
We have a long way to go to raise $160,000 by June 30. I urge the community to get behind our Winter Appeal today. With your support we can provide a child in need with the help they need to make the most of their school years and go on to create a better future for themselves.
Tax deductible donations can be made via phone 1800 082 0690 or visit thesmithfamily.com.au.
1.1 million Australian children and young people live in poverty. That’s one in seven.
Annette Young, NSW manager, The Smith Family