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2026 So far - Facing challenging times together! 
Edition: 2 | April 2026 2026 So far - Facing challenging times together!Dear Supporter, Over the last eight years, Roundabout has had the privilege of becoming one of Canberra’s most respected and trusted charities. You have trusted us with your time, your donations, and the items that have supported your own children and families. Together, we have supported thousands of children in our community. We want to continue building that trust by being open about the challenges ahead, ensuring you feel informed, connected, and part of how we respond. Our goal remains the same, a Canberra where no child’s present or future is negatively impacted by material deprivation. An increasing challenge Last year, we raised an amazing 1.2 million dollars, which enabled us to be there for 5,401 children, 16% more children than the year before. 2026 started at full speed, with demand once again reaching new heights. Our team is working tirelessly to fulfil every order we receive. While Roundabout is an organisation focused on supporting local, the reality is that what is happening around the world is often felt right here in Canberra. Over the last few years, we have seen significant impacts across Australia and right here in our own community. Rising petrol costs are another pressure on families, and while we know almost everyone across Canberra will feel some impact from these recent increases, those who are already struggling will feel the impacts most significantly. Making difficult situations almost impossible for many. Based on growth data and what our social service partners are telling us about the needs in our community, we had already projected that we would need to raise at least 1.5M in 2026 to meet baseline demand. As we close out the first quarter of the year, numbers are already supporting and exceeding these projections. At the end of February, we were already seeing a 14% increase in the number of children we had supported, but by the end of March, after only a few weeks of the new cost-of-living pressures, that had risen to staggering +28% compared to the same time last year. Behind each of these numbers is a child and a family doing their best to navigate these increasingly challenging circumstances. 
How your support delivers real impact We quite honestly could not do what we do without the care and commitment of hundreds of volunteers, many of whom are long-standing and regular, plus the thousands of supporters within our wider community who pass on their pre-loved and treasured goods to give them a new home and purpose for a new family. At the same time, our small, deeply committed team of staff plays a vital role in making it all possible. With the equivalent of just 8 staff members, we continue to operate as efficiently as we can, ensuring every donation is turned into practical support for children who need it most. Funding for our team, along with our operational costs, ensures we can provide the care, coordination, and reliability our community depends on. This investment has enabled Roundabout Canberra to grow from a 100% volunteer-led organisation that supported 380 children in 2018 to supporting 5401 children last year and over 20,000 children to date. Supporter, as always, thank you for being part of our community. We firstly hope you and your family are doing well. We know that as challenges continue to impact our wider community, support for some may need to change. But with 1585 children already supported this year and many more who will need us, we hope our amazing Canberra community will continue to come together and give in any way they can to support those who need it most. If you’re doing okay, we also hope you will consider making a donation in the coming weeks and months, including our EOFY Appeal, when you'll have the opportunity for your gift to be matched by some amazing Canberra organisations that also support Roundabout. Together, we can ensure that every child across Canberra has dignity, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity for a brighter future. Thank you, as always, for continuing to support this essential work. ❤️ Acting CEO As always, thank you for your continued support, which is vital to our ability to support the families who need our help in our community. Don't hesitate to reach out if you're interested in finding out more about anything we have shared today or simply have an enquiry about what we do.      Roundabout Canberra acknowledges the Ngunnawal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise the ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Country, culture, and community, and we are committed to working in ways that are culturally safe, respectful, and guided by First Nations voices. |
