STAFF REPORTER
Gumboot Friday events are kicking off around South Canterbury next week.
Money raised from events — which include individual activities, a poetry evening, street collections, a quiz night and gumboot throws — will go directly to the I Am Hope Foundation’s free kids’ counselling programme.
Timaru-based I Am Hope South Island manager Michelle Cogger said since Gumboot Friday’s inception back in 2018 until April this year, a total of 50,214 sessions had been provided and paid for.
Ms Cogger said the programme could be accessed by anyone aged 5-25, anywhere in the country.
She said the average cost of a session was $149, and for the past several months, Gumboot Friday had been paying out an average of $125,000 per week to 546 approved counsellors.
‘‘Gumboot Friday is 100% community-funded and not funded by the central government,’’ she said.
It relied on donations from the New Zealand public.
‘‘100% of the money raised for our kids goes to free counselling. All associated administration costs are paid for by the I Am Hope Foundation.
‘‘We are confident that over time our service will significantly reduce the amount of young people who need to enter the public health system, thus freeing up our overworked, stressed out, highly trained health professionals to deal with the more acute cases of mental illness.’’
Poetry night for mental health
Prominent Canterbury poet Joanna Preston will headline a poetry night at the Timaru Town and Country Club next weekend in an effort to raise funds for Gumboot Friday.
Co-founded by Helen Read and Dwayne Carter, the event will take place on November 3 and feature 20 local poets, alongside the headline act.
The poets will all be coming together on the night to raise money to go towards counselling for young people.
Co-founder Dwayne Carter said the audience would be able to vote for their favourite poet via donations.
‘‘The poet who raises the most money on the night will be the winner, but really it’s all about coming together and getting behind a good cause.’’
Mr Carter had not heard of Gumboot Friday until this year, but as soon as he did, he wanted to get involved.
‘‘I came across it online, had a look and thought, I want to be a part of that.
‘‘I lost friends to suicide and had my own mental health struggles, so I contacted the Gumboot Friday South Island coordinator and asked how I could help.’’
127 New Zealand young people committed suicide last year and it costs about $500,000 a month to provide counselling for children at risk.
The funds raised for the poetry night will go towards bringing that cost down and making counselling more obtainable for young people who need it.
Mr Carter said the focus needed to be about prevention.
‘‘We need to focus on getting to the young people on the top of cliff not picking them up off the bottom.’’
He said the poetry night will feature spot prizes, live music and much more.
Some of the prizes on offer for the poets are copies of Joanna Preston’s poetry books as well as Sudden Valley Poets books, a MasterChef contestant-cooked meal, a painting from Mr Carter himself and many smaller prizes.
There is a limit on capacity so people wanting to attend are urged to buy a $10 ticket early.
Door sales will also be available if there is space, for the cost of a donation on the night.
They are still looking for more poets to take part and those interested are urged to get in touch.
