Donation to local charity Baylin’s Gift

The money was raised through council’s new fundraiser, Casual for a Cause. The fundraiser has seen staff wear casual clothes to work every friday for the past several weeks for a gold coin donation.

Once the fundraising reached the sum of $1000 staff agreed it would be donated to a nominated local charity. Baylin’s gift is the first charity to receive the donation from council.

General manager Craig Milburn presented the cheque to Baylin’s Gift founder Hayley Hoskins and said it’s one of the many deserving local charities in Kempsey.

“We have a close relationship with Baylin’s Gift and we’re glad they are the first local chairty to receive this donation from council,” Mr Milbirn said.

“We see activities like Casual for a Cause as a great way to do something positive for the community. I think it’s fantastic what a large organisation like council can achieve when everyone comes together.”

Ms Hoskins said teenagers in local communities need more support, especially teens with mental health issues and LGBTQI teens.

“Because there is a stigmatization of mental health issues and LGBTQI youth in small communities, we ensure that the money donated to the charity stays here in the community to help other struggling youths,” Ms Hoskins said. 

The money will be used to fund the Teen Mental Health First Aid Certificate Course at St Paul’s College and Melville High School.

“The course is aimed specifically at ages 16 to 18 and teaches students to look out for developing mental health issues in their friends, recognise the signs of a mental health crisis, particularly suicide, and get a responsible and trusted adult to take over,” Ms Hoskins said.