Bloc and Subbies lead generous gesture to help our kids

A signature Canberra autumn day laced with sunshine and a perfect temperature was matched brilliantly by the generosity of a group of local building and construction industry sub-contractors during a fund-raising BBQ on Bloc’s high profile DKSN building site in Dickson on Friday, April 12.

Bloc, one of the city’s leading construction companies, is getting behind Raw Potential Canberra with director, Drew Mathias seeking a more strategic approach to the company’s charitable and fundraising activities.   This new strategy has involved Bloc funding the design and creation of Raw Potential flags that were hung from cranes signifying the partnership aimed at helping many of Canberra’s homeless and severely disadvantage young people find new purpose in their lives.

Responding as the building and construction industry so often does, a whopping $9,422 was raised from the gold coin donations and pledges of site workers and the generous sub-contractors working with Bloc on the site.   Harvey Norman Commercial were again at the forefront providing food and drink for the day whilst numerous individuals and companies got behind the fundraising.

The crews on site were given an insight into the difficulties confronting young people often struggling to find shelter.   A crisis pack including swag, food and sleeping bag was displayed by Raw Potential to graphically highlight to plight of young people on the streets.

For the team at Bloc led by Drew and DKSN Project Manager, Justin Lee, this latest initiative was a great introduction into a program they are looking to roll out onto other sites around Canberra. Gauging by the success of this first venture, this is a partnership that will make big inroads into arresting some of the unwanted growth in homelessness and disadvantage in the city.

Raw Potential Canberra chairman, Paul Kane has expressed his delight at this latest innovation by Bloc and acknowledged the impact it will have on our young people.   “In over 30 years in operation, more recently known as Youth Care Canberra, Raw Potential has provided critical outreach services to thousands of young people who often they have nowhere to turn for help.   We can’t do the work to help these young people without the generosity of great businesses like Bloc and the fantastic subbies and others who work alongside of them.   We are so grateful for this new partnership, it will certainly make a difference,” concluded Paul.

The following businesses are acknowledged for their wonderful contribution to this first Bloc/Raw Potential venture, as are the many individuals who generously contributed money on the day:

 

• Tiling Dynamix
• CTR Pacific
• Delnas Metal Roofing
• Rudd’s Consulting
• Capital Veneering
• RAR Cranes
• Schindler Lifts
• O’Neill & Brown Fire Services
• CCS Group
• Martin Donnelly Electrical
• IC Formwork
• Capital Reinforcement and Stressing Specialist
• D Group
• HDM Metalworking
• Harvey Norman Commercial

 

Raw Potential Canberra outreach workers are thrilled with the partnership as they seek to provide employment pathways for young people to join the industry and expand and develop the initiative with the support and assistance of the MBA and the ACT Government.