Natural Leaders Impact

One Boy. One Bushcraft Program.

$1.08M in Public Savings

1,553% ROI

Help us take Natural Leaders from pilot to national blueprint

We are seeking 4 cornerstone partners at $50,000/year to fully stabilize and scale this program over the next 3 years.

Natural Leaders Cornerstone Partner Proposal

At 12 years old, he was being groomed by the Mongrel Mob.

A runaway. Neurodivergent. Impulsive. Already implicated in four major crimes. Vaping, using drugs, stealing cars. His dream? To run a high-end brothel and drug ring.

When no one else was having success—not the police, not Oranga Tamariki, not the DHB—his school referred him to our trust's pilot youth program Natural Leaders, a trial bushcraft-based rights of passage ecotherapy program.

We saw his intelligence. His sensitivity. His raw potential. We challenged him. We mentored him. We taught him how to survive in the bush, fish, dive for kai moana, and take ownership of his life.

Six months later, he had cut ties with the gang, re-engaged in education, and began dreaming of becoming a builder with a family. He is now co-designing our program as one of our youth mentors.

Why It Works:

Run by neurodivergent trauma informed mentors who get it
Combines creative somatic ecotherapy, bushcraft, and emotional literacy.
Organicity - we are trained to help them remove what is limiting them, to make room for their natural state of balanced wellness.
Designed for kids who don’t thrive in four walls.
Project based and led by their natural gifts not a rigid curriculum
Includes rites of passage, adventure road trips, real conversations, and real challenge.

What One Life Turned Around Really Saves

When we supported just one high-risk youth—previously headed for gang involvement, repeated offending, and incarceration—we didn’t just change a life.

We saved the country over $1 million in projected public costs from our impact on just one of the 20 students involved in the program.

His situation was the most dramatic so we have costed out the outcome but each student has their own story of impact.

Full Cost Breakdown: Ages 12–21

Category	Estimated Cost	What It Covers
Youth Court Processes	$150,000	24 court appearances (4 per year for 6 years), including legal aid, admin, and youth justice coordination.
Police Investigations	$100,000	Arrests, interviews, incident responses, and casework over 9 years.
Incarceration	$450,000	3 years total in detention/prison at approx. $150,000/year.
Rehabilitation Programs	$125,000	Mandated drug/alcohol treatment, probation, anger management, etc.
Legal Aid & Prosecution	$80,000	Crown prosecution and repeat access to public legal services.
School & Social Work Interventions	$82,608	Adjusted cost of Alternative Education (+$22K) + years of social work, counselling, and emergency welfare.
Victim & Community Compensation	$100,000	ACC payouts, property damage, trauma recovery, and broader social impact.

Total Cost Avoided: $1,087,608 NZD

What We Invested

Cost of pilot program (2 terms): $70,000

ROI: 1,553%

That’s $15.53 saved for every $1 spent.

Or put another way:
Every dollar invested in healing today prevents thousands in crisis later.

Why It Matters

This isn't just about numbers—
It's about what happens when we stop reacting and start investing upstream instead of dealing with the expense of fall out.

A life in the gangs always worried about going to prison or a life where you are actively creating the life you love. To us it is a no brainer...but to a kid who was being groomed as he was...not so obvious.

One creative, trauma-informed program changed a young person’s path from crime to contribution. There were 20 other kids in the program who benefited as well.
From harm to hope. From being a “problem” to becoming part of the solution.

Imagine what we could do when we are able to train others to deliver our style of program in their schools? A system built on prevention instead of punishment.

Why we need Cornerstone Partners Now

We’re outgrowing short-term, unstable funding cycles.
Youth need continuity—so do our mentors.
Cornerstone support frees us from survival mode and allows us to scale what’s working.
You’re not funding charity. You’re investing in a promising upstream solution.

Become a Cornerstone Partner: Invest in Transformation

Join us in reshaping futures. By becoming a cornerstone partner, your business stands at the forefront of social innovation, directly contributing to the empowerment of at-risk youth through our ecotherapy programs.

Exclusive Benefits for Cornerstone Partners

Brand Visibility: Prominent placement of your logo and brand story across our platforms, events, and promotional materials.
Community Engagement: Opportunities for your team to participate in community events, fostering a culture of social responsibility.
Impact Reports: Regular updates showcasing the tangible difference your support makes, perfect for CSR reporting.Wikipedia+4Double the Donation+4Craigs Investment Partners+4
Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded businesses and community leaders committed to positive change.

Your Investment, Amplified

Every dollar you invest doesn't just support a program—it catalyzes a ripple effect of transformation, reducing long-term societal costs and building stronger communities.

WHAT YOU GET

Real-world impact: Measurable change in school re-engagement, youth leadership, and community cohesion.
Visibility & storytelling: Your brand aligned with transformation, hope, and future-building.
Connection: Site visits, reporting, co-created storytelling, and a seat at the table as we shape what youth work can be in Aotearoa.

OUR BELIEF

Every young person is already whole. Our job is to help them remember—before it’s too late.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Take the next step:

Schedule a Meeting: Let's discuss how your partnership can align with your business values and community goals.
Request a Proposal: Receive a detailed overview of partnership opportunities and benefits.
Contact Us: Reach out directly to our partnership coordinator at thetrust@everybodyisatreasure.org or call 0211412646

Together, we can cultivate change and harvest hope.