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INNOVATIVE MINISTRIES n INNOVATIVE MINISTRIES n INNOVATIVE MINISTRIES n INNOVATIVE MINISTRIES n IN SWEEPING CHANGES The people on staff at Longara Brush, a leading Australian

manufacturer of brooms for 40 years, know that their work has a higher purpose. Their real mission is helping young people make sweeping changes in their lives.

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ongara Brush owner Sam Peacock had an epiphany more than a year ago and hasn’t looked back. He is driven by his mission to help young people and has made it a company-wide project. The family-run business in Brendale, on Brisbane’s north

side, began its charitable drive in earnest in 2014, including acting as a drop-off point for donated blankets and sponsoring children overseas. Employees are encouraged to find ways to fund new charitable programs and they have responded with production efficiencies and new initiatives, such as selling discarded pallets for $5 each. With such determination, the staff wanted to do more for

local people. That’s when a chance meeting with Carinity Youth Orana’s Dave McNair, a crisis accommodation provider, resulted in a partnership to transform young lives. Carinity Youth Orana, a Baptist-affiliated initiative, is an accommodation center that helps homeless people, aged 16-19 years, access education, training and employment opportunities with the goal of transferring to suitable stable accommodation. The organization works with businesses in the local community to organize placements for residents. One such resident is John, 18, who lost his laboring job, had nowhere to live and had run out of money when he arrived at Carinity Youth Orana in late August 2014. “So many young people

Longara Brush owner Sam Peacock is driven by his mission to help young people and has made it a company- wide project.

who come to Carinity Youth Orana have so much potential

but have fallen on hard times. When John arrived, he had a real spark and a strong work ethic,” says McNair. “Sam talked to John about what he wanted to achieve. They

decided on a forklift license. He’s had regular work each week and achieved his forklift ticket. But what’s great about this story is John has seen there are people out there who do care about him, people who are willing to help him get ahead in life. So many young people who find themselves homeless find it incredibly difficult to break the cycle without support,” McNair says. Peacock believes other business owners are willing to help;

they just don’t know how. That’s why he has started a business breakfast to connect local businesses with people in need in the community. “Many business owners are time poor and don’t have time to

research who needs help in the community. And young people need to see someone in their corner. They need someone to stand up for them and say they are a good person who deserves a chance,” Peacock says. “By connecting groups like Carinity Youth Orana with businesses, we can help young people in need. The business owners can choose where and how they want to help.” Peacock was so impressed with John’s work that he has offered him permanent part-time work at Longara Brush. Peacock sees this as a stepping stone for John. “John has a job here as long as he wants it, but at the same time

if he decides to move on to another opportunity I will support him completely,” Peacock says. John thanks Carinity Youth Orana for its support and feels

Peacock partners with Carinity Youth

Orana, which provides accomodations and

training for homeless and at-risk youth.

lucky to have met Peacock and the Longara Brush employees. “He’s such a great boss and the people at Longara have been good to me. I am in a much better place than I was before. I have my forklift license, a job and I plan to get my own flat in a couple of weeks,” says John. While Sam Peacock knows he is a small fish in the big picture of what’s needed to help disadvantaged young people, he has already made a real difference in a young person’s life. And he is encouraging others to do the same.

For 30 years, Carinity Youth Orana has been successfully helping homeless and at-risk young people aged between 16 and 19 years reengage in the community. The house consists of five young people who can generally be accommodated for up to three months at a time. This story was first published in the December 14 issue of The qb, a publication of Queensland Baptists, in Australia.

Left: The facilities at Carinity Youth’s Harald’s House where youth at risk of living on the streets find a family atmosphere and loving support while they finish their education and training