The largest charitable provider of sponsorships for disadvantaged Australian children, The Smith Family, is bracing for an influx of calls for help in the back-to-school period.

To help students have equal access to educational opportunity, The Smith Family has launched its Back To School Appeal, which will run through February, with the aim of generating 5000 sponsors for children in need.

Tracey Smith, from the Nowra Learning For Life Centre, said approximately 300 Shoalhaven students benefited from The Smith Family’s help. Nationally, one in 10 children was disadvantaged and many more desperately needed support.

Ms Smith said The Smith Family was still looking for extra sponsors so it could assist more in need.

“Everything we do is educational support. Everything is geared towards education and supporting families that need help sending their kids to school,” she said.

“This can involve providing funds for the basics, such as uniform, shoes and school books, but also allows for extracurricular activities like dancing, music, or extra tuition – anything that involves learning – so we can break the cycle of generational disadvantage.”

Lorraine Montgomery, VIEW club National Councillor, said almost 30 children were sponsored through the eight Shoalhaven VIEW clubs.

“Knowing you are making a difference to a child’s life is paramount and they get an enormous amount of satisfaction out of it,” she said.

“It’s most rewarding, and I think that’s the special part of it,” she said.

“But we need more sponsors. It would be a great thing to have more individual sponsors.”

Australians can sponsor a disadvantaged Australian child for around $1.30 a day to support their educational achievement. Visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au or call 1800 024 069.

HELP AT HAND: Tracey Smith from the Nowra Learning for Life Centre says The Smith Family needs many more sponsors to help disadvantaged Australian children with their education.