Westpac Foundation, through the Community Grants program, has enabled two BikeRescues! The Foundation offers grants to not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises, specifically those taking fresh approaches to solving Australian’s complex social problems. Dismantle makes a pretty slick fit, and we’re excited to already be putting the money to work helping out kids doing it tough.
Half of the grant is going to a BikeRescue for vulnerable young people aged 16-20 from Foyer Oxford, a housing and support service. Foyer Oxford is part of the international Foyer Movement and is a special kind of awesome. The idea is to put young people in tough spots in the centre of things, not out in the fringe suburbs, and support them with educational and training opportunities while creating an ‘aspirational’ community around them. Over time, the residents secure sustainable employment and independent accommodation, creating the positive outcomes for the long term. We are very proud to partner with such a forward thinking program.
Foyer Oxford is located in a beautifully designed building on Oxford Street in the heart of Leederville, right next to the CBD. It’s is run by a consortium of three organisations: Foundation Housing Ltd, Anglicare WA and North Metropolitan TAFE. Together, they offer 98 residents housing and support, as well as access to a diverse range of education and work opportunities.
Westpac’s support has allowed us to run our program with 12 residents from the complex, starting from the beginning of October and will running through until mid-December. Approved and set up by Foyer Oxford manager, John Thomson, the goals for the program are to increase confidence in participants, create a sense of achievement, and build interpersonal effectiveness and work capacity.
The second half of the money will be put to use in Term 1, 2019, supporting a program with a school or youth network in a low socio-economic area of Perth. It’s a generous contribution from Westpac Foundation, and one we can use to really effectively turn around the lives of vulnerable kids in tough spots. Thanks heaps, Westpac!