Mission & values
Our mission is to enhance and enrich the lives of children experiencing vulnerability by providing experiences that embrace fun and create opportunities for growth in environments that inspire. Our vision is that every child deserves to feel safe, connected and live a happy and healthy life.
We achieve our mission through our diverse programs:
Our programs
Our programs take the form of short-stay experiences offered in a wide range of environments. During programs, we provide children with opportunities to build positive relationships with peers and adult role models, which helps them to learn and grow when they return to their schools and communities.
We also offer respite holidays for families who are referred to us by welfare agencies. This holiday by the sea can help families reconnect, have fun and create happy memories.
Everything we do at Cottage reflects our values:
Respect
Adventure
Integrity
Belonging
Community
Respect
Regardless of where someone has come from or what they have experienced, everyone we interact with at Cottage is treated with the same level of care, understanding, compassion and respect.
Adventure
Our programs are based on adventures – largely in nature – and participants are always in a safe and supportive environment that encourages them to step outside of their comfort zones. Whether it is learning how to surf, riding a horse or skiing for the first time, every program explores adventure in its own unique way. Big adventure is not the only adventure, either. Trying new foods, sleeping away from home for the first time, making new friends or being honest with self-reflection are the other ways participants experience adventure at Cottage.
Integrity
We maintain integrity in everything we do at Cottage by being honest, trustworthy, caring and compassionate towards ourselves and others, while holding our values in mind. We protect and support others when they need it, and are also reliable. We are positive role models by demonstrating self-awareness and initiative, as well as being proactive and self-motivated.
Belonging
We strive to ensure that everyone – from volunteers, donors, participants and staff to other supporters – who visits Cottage feels a sense of belonging by being welcomed, valued and supported. Kindness, encouragement and inclusion are paramount in making program participants feel they belong, and is essential to ensuring they have a positive experience. We aim for participants to feel this upon arrival at Cottage as the beds are made up for each child with hand-knitted gifts. We also achieve this through activities that inspire, create fun and provide opportunities.
Community
We aim for Cottage to feel like a warm embrace for everyone, whether that be volunteers, staff, visitors or program participants. This welcoming nature is what creates our sense of community. On programs, community is felt by creating a respectful and positive place for participants to have fun, be inspired and make the most of their opportunities.