Kennards For Kids gives teens a second chance in life

Kennards For Kids’ mission is to help make Australia a better place for future generations by significantly improving the well-being of disadvantaged young Australians.

As a caring, family-owned business, Kennards Hire believes that all children are precious. The start that they get in life, their well-being and the challenges they face through poor health or hardship, not only affects their personal development, it ultimately affects the community as a whole.

Kennards is proud to support the Stepping Stone House (SSH) in its vision to create a secure and safe location for young people in need, most of whom come from an environment of neglect, abandonment, abuse, exposure to drugs, alcohol and violence, and complicated by mental health issues.

Based in the inner-west of Sydney, SSH looks like any other residential house on the street, providing its young people with their own private room and common areas where they can eat, clean, and do laundry.

SSH is also an accredited provider of Out of Home Care - an accommodation option for young people who are unable to live at home.

Run by members of the community and volunteers, SSH provides teenagers with a safe haven which they can call home - giving them a place to learn and build valuable life skills.

These life skills are taught through living skills workshop, recreation and activities - all of which are important to building the teenager’s self confidence, independence, social acceptance and love for life which we often take for granted.

Through SSH, young people can strive towards becoming the best version of themselves - happy and healthy young adults.

"The staff at Stepping Stone House are very friendly and they make an effort to get to know you and that made me feel like I was not just a case file," one of SSH's residents said.

"Stepping Stone House always feels like it's a family environment, I have never called it a refuge, I always called it home."

In addition to financial support, Kennards has also contributed by providing all the equipment in renovating the two homes.

“The young people we work with have been given up on, after having had a poor start to life. Having Kennards come on board has enabled us to open our doors and hearts to more young people.

"They were instrumental in assisting SSH to open a new house and help more young people have a future and get their lives back on track,” Finn Callanan, a Stepping Stone House manager said.

Kennards will continue to provide financial support to SSH to help fund many of the activities, giving these teenagers a second chance of life.

To learn more about Stepping Stone House, make a direct donation or find out how you can get involve or help, visit www.steppingstonehouse.com.au.

If you are thinking of hiring equipment this spring, think Kennards. For every hire contract written in September and October, Kennards will donate $1 to Kennards for Kids selected charities. Visit your local Kennards branch today.