At Toc H South Australia, our people are driven by a passion to help children in need and united in their service to the communities we support.
In 2018, we celebrate eighty years of Toc H Camps in South Australia - and we're putting a plan in place to ensure the program continues for years to come.
Data compiled by Nunc Sollicitudin.
At Talbot House, it didn't matter if you were a seasoned general or a newly enlisted cadet; our organisation was founded on the principle that all people are equal.
We've taken founder Tubby Clayton's original philosophy with us into the future - from the person who pops in to help with the dishes to the Director of Toc H SA, we know that everybody has something valuable to offer.
The leadership structure of our Camping Program has been re-organised to ensure there are plenty of opportunities for people to support the camps in the way that suits them - whether that's front and centre as Leader in Charge or behind the scenes making schedules and processing referrals.
Our program is entirely staffed by volunteers, so it's important for us to keep a steady stream of new people coming in. We've established links with Flinders University, UniSA and The University of Adelaide as well as Volunteering SA&NT, and we know that when we put the call out, it's going to be heard.
The safety of the young people in our care is paramount. Before they can join the team, new volunteers must agree to our code of conduct and undertake a criminal history screening.
To make sure we stay the best at what we do, we're continually providing our people with new training, reviewing our policies and procedures, and implementing new digital systems for finance management, documentation and reporting.
We know the Camping Program is great - but we want to do more to help the community. This year we're launching our Tier 2 program, enabling discounted access to our camp facilities for like-minded organisations working with children in need.
We're making seed funding available to help volunteers turn their ideas for youth support programs into reality.
Since 1928, Toc H has run at least one camp per year for children who'd otherwise not get the chance for a holiday experience.
In those early days, an entire camp cost just £20 and the children were taken to camp in the trays of lorries. Today, it's a little pricier; on average, each camp costs Toc H about $185 per child.
Our programs have always been free for the participants thanks to the support of Toc H members and friends. By asking referring agencies and schools to make a small contribution on behalf of their campers, we're maintaining a no-cost-to-families approach.
In 2017, we placed 82 children in the Camping Program, at a cost of approximately $15,325. This figure is calculated on catering, transport, and consumables (such as paint, sports equipment and toys), and excludes other costs such as staff wages, site operating costs and insurance.
Contributions from referring agencies for our 2017 program totaled $3603 leaving a funding shortfall of some $11,722.
We currently do not receive any government funding and as such, we rely on the generous support of the community to finance the Camping Program.
Our thanks and appreciations go to everyone who supports the program, especially fundraiser of the year Kiwanis Club of Reedbeds, which donated $2000 to the Camping Program during 2017. We also received a donation of $400 from the Lions Club of Rostrevor, and our very own Toc H Victor Harbor branch raised $403.95 through raffles and donations.
When not in use by Toc H for its charity camps, the Victor Harbor campsite is available for hire by schools and community groups. The campsite is the primary revenue source for Toc H South Australia, and the money it raises helps to maintain the site and support our charity projects.
We are working to increase occupancy at the campsite and have invested in new marketing opportunities, site improvements, and community campaigns to maximise our potential. With increased resources, we'll be able to offer more camp placements, and begin offering services in the community beyond the camping program.
In 2018 we'll also bring a General Manager on board to streamline our business operations, expand our fundraising sources, and extend our reach in the community.
Making effective use of our assets is a core aspect of our strategic plan, and in October 2017 the Toc H Centre in Thebarton was sold at auction after a noted decline in usage of the property.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to help subsidise our camps for children, maintain and upgrade the Victor Harbor campsite, and support our incoming General Manager.
Toc H was established in Australia over a hundred years ago. To guarantee that we can support young South Australians for another century, we're doing everything we can to transform Toc H into a modern organisation.
By upgrading to cloud-based infrastructure, we've made it possible for our staff and volunteers to access what they need, when they need it, regardless of where they are.
In addition to streamlining the referrals process, going digital has helped us to do our bit for the environment by cutting down on the paper trail.
We've asked NFPAS (Not for Profit Accounting Specialists) to take care of our books so that we can get on with looking after kids in need.
We're building up our board with industry professionals and gaining top quality advice allowing us to make the right decisions for the best results, every time.
