Charity aims to improve education

The Smith Family has urged South West residents to support its Winter Appeal and help children in need with their education.

According to the Smith Family’s Bunbury family partnerships coordinator George Andrews, more than 50 Bunbury families are receiving assistance from the charity.

“We noticed a need within the Bunbury area and so that’s why we’ve moved in here,” he said.

“We started off in Carey Park and then in January we expanded to two others and now also work with the feeder high schools.

“The best thing for Bunbury people to do if they want to help is to go to our website and make a donation, no matter how great or small it is.”

The other two local schools working with the Smith Family are Parkfield Primary School in Australind and Adam Road Primary School in South Bunbury, both of which along with Carey Park Primary School, have recommended families for the charity’s learning for life scholarship.

“I go into each of the schools one day a week, two for Adam Road, and I support the families on the scholarship to help ensure the kids are attending school,” Mr Andrews said.

“If they’re not, then I work with the family to work out why and how we can support them to get the kids back at school.”

The learning for life scholarship is one of several support programs run by the Smith Family, providing families with financial support to help cover educational costs including school fees, swimming lessons, stationary items, books, bags and excursions while other focus on homework and career mentoring.

More than 13,000 children across the State benefited from these programs last year, a number WA general manager Ian Moore would love to see increased.

“It’s not just about helping them lift their academic performance, but giving them the confidence to believe in themselves and the motivation to strive for a better future,” he said.