The Next Step
On 6 July 2019, more than 250 people packed into the Warkworth Town Hall for The Next Step showcase and fundraiser, directed and presented by Lisa Chappell. It was a profound experience, both artistically and emotionally, pulling together our community in the most beautiful of ways. Our 17 professional and community performers shared their experiences of what it means to be human, and allowed us to celebrate this with them. Nine drummers preceded the performance with a drumming opening that they had learnt only hours before in a workshop with a leading drumming tutor.
Our community generously sponsored wine, food, and raffle items to the evening which really made the night. Local wellbeing practitioners had booths that shared their skills and abilities.
“I would like to say a big thank you to all involved with orchestrating The Next Step. Not only was it so good to see so many from the community turning up to support raising funds for our youth at risk, but I found myself rather moved by all the stories told throughout the evening. How wonderful that people in our community will share their heartfelt stories in order to help and inspire others. I came away with a very warm heart. ”
“I had the most amazing time at the recent fundraising event ‘The Next Step’. The show they put on was terrific and was so much more then I excepted. Maxine made everybody feel welcome and we had the most beautiful supper in the whole wide world. A most enjoyable evening to be had.”
The next step: half marathon
Prior to the show, the trust led a half marathon fundraising event on 29 June 2019 at Wenderholm which included our current and past challenged youth. Thirteen people took part in this successful pilot event which included young and mature youth mentors, the trust team, and youth paying it forward.
A local 18 year old boy who was facing life imprisonment for importing illegal drugs, the same boy who was at the heart of Phoenix Rising & A Cautionary Tale, was at the forefront of this fundraiser. As a direct result of the half marathon and his efforts, the boy was able to raise over $1400, which he awarded to another vulnerable youth in his community at the show.
