Help Matt Browning tackle youth unemployment

UPDATE:

I am stunned and humbled by people's willingness to help me get started with this venture, and have been blown away by the whole process. I look forward to giving people updates as they come, but in the meantime I wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who donated, and also to those who helped spread the word. Up until now this venture has been started with passion, and it means a lot to have so many people get in behind and support me as things get more tangible and real. I will be sure to post updates as we get closer to launching.

Thanks again.

Arohanui.

STRETCH GOALS:

I have been blown away by people's response to this campaign. Thank you for sharing it around, for telling people and for donating so willingly. This page set a record for speed to reach the target!

As Sophie from my team says:

"We had been hopeful that the $16,523 goal would be met before the 7th of January - we didn't, in our most optimistic of dreams, think it would happen within 4 days! We feel humbled and blessed, but most of all encouraged that so many people are backing Matt and this exciting Shake Up initiative."

We have decided to share this list with you and use the remaining days of Matt's Spark My Potential campaign to fundraise for the things I would love to have in the caravan.

If we reach the following targets, then we can afford the associated items:

- $19,500 - both the car will be signwritten and the caravan spray painted

- $20,000 - a 'coffee' pavement flag, as well as four bar stools

- $22,000 - an additional fridge; an additional blender; an outdoor blender

- $24,000 - takeaway cups to serve customers with; Point of Sale software (Vend) and Accounting software (Xero)

- $25,000 - boards to attach to the caravan so people know what we are selling (and interchangeable depending on the season); as well as a koha to our tradies.

WHAT I’M DOING:

Tackling youth unemployment by setting up social enterprises, in order to hire young people who can’t get work.

HOW?

To get started, I am setting up Shake Up, a social enterprise that will sell smoothies, soups and coffee - providing young people with the experience and practical knowledge needed to get into work. I particularly want to take young people who have a barrier to getting into work.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?

A simple definition is a business that exists purely for a charitable purpose. Any profit that it makes goes back into itself to continue its social objective. It generates revenue at the same time as addressing its social purpose.

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL OBJECTIVE I AM PURSUING?

To create opportunities to employ the many number of young people who can’t get work because they need experience, or they have something holding them back from getting into work like a criminal record or lack of education.

WHY I’M DOING IT:

People have been discussing the growing inequality gap in New Zealand for a few years, but I realised that unless I started to do something about addressing it, then I would be yet another person merely discussing it in years to come. I have mentored many young people and seen the gap between what many currently know and what they need to know to get into work - but knowing that they're often fast learners.

THE STORY ABOUT HAZARD:

One of my recent mentees walked up to a customer service desk and said “SUP! Have youse got any jobs!?”. They smiled and said that he’d need to drop in his CV. He turned around, looked at me and yelled “Matt! What’s a CV?”

A few workplaces later, I offered to be the one to go up to the information desk. I very politely introduced myself, introduced Hazard (his name) and said that we were looking for part time work so that Hazard could get some work experience.

Unfortunately the man declined us, but the very next workplace Hazard said “I want to do this one”. Sure enough, he nailed it. All it took was someone showing him what to do, and providing some modelling.

And this stacks up when I hear people in youth justice mention that most youth offenders don’t have a positive male role model at home. A lot of our young people are talented and willing to learn, they just need to be given an opportunity with someone showing them some patience to ‘get it’.

WHO’S ON MY TEAM?:

There are two others on the ‘steering group’, who have a vast amount of experience. One is Dee, who helped to see up a charitable cafe in Rotorua. The other is Sophie, who used to be the manager of the local youth centre. Their help and guidance has been invaluable.

There is also a team providing governance through the Atua Awhi trust, through their Community Facing Ministries committee.

WHERE AM I GOING TO GET THE YOUTH FROM?

This is the most common question I get asked. The unfortunate problem is that we do not have a shortage of young people looking for work in Rotorua. I will look to find youth from local training organisations, the youth justice residence (Te Maioha o Parekarangi), the youth centre, and local schools. While there are far too many young people that I could employ, I am going to start with young people who are motivated to take the opportunity and recognise this as the beginning of a new journey. I am likely to start with one young person and make sure the processes I put in place are working before hiring more.

WHY I’M CROWDFUNDING:

Shake Up has been incredibly fortunate to have received funding from the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust for the fitout of the caravan; from the council for program costs; from Rotary for professional services; and from generous families who helped us purchase the caravan and gifted a car.

So I am fundraising to get the final items for the fit out so that Shake Up can start trading before summer is finished next year. I am also raising funds for something that is very hard to get funding for - initial wages for our young people.

WHAT IS MY BACKGROUND?

I have worked in a couple of different jobs, with IT playing the most dominant role. I have also worked in a corporate (3M), at the University of Auckland and a couple of jobs in Canada. I have made websites for a living, and most recently set up www.10below.co.nz. I have always done mentoring as an extra-curricular, and this is what I'm most passionate about.

WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED FOR:

The items that we are still needing in our caravan, plus the initial wages for our young people - which is hard to get funding for.

Honda Generator EG3600CXS: ­$3,450

Coffee Machine : $8,650

Start up wages for two young people for four weeks: $4,423.20

Total: $16,523

WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT ME:

Because I’m passionate about social enterprises and addressing youth unemployment. I believe that we cannot rely on governments or councils to enact the change that we want to see - we have to take ownership ourselves. For some people, embarking on a new project like this might be a difficult ask, but pledging money towards my campaign will be something that they can feel excited about.

SUPPORTER JOURNEY:

I really want you to stay up to date and informed with what’s happening. As a supporter I will be sending out updates about the journey that Shake Up is going on, and some of the behind the scenes action.

Plus there will be an exclusive invite to the launch of the caravan, with smoothies on the house! That will be a night of real celebration, and it will be great to have as many people who have supported the journey there.