The Beryl Women’s Refuge mobile therapy van makes it easy for kids to get the help they need. A $15,000 grant has helped keep it running. Photo: James Coleman.
Canberra children traumatised by family violence are receiving much-needed therapy they might otherwise not have access to, thanks to a mobile service provided by Beryl Women’s Refuge.
Last year, Beryl received $15,000 from the Snow Foundation in Canberra Foundations Collaborative’s third annual grants round to support its mobile therapy van and enable continued free support for these children.
CFC has now announced the launch of its fourth annual grant round, offering $1 million to local, community-led initiatives.
Beryl CEO Robyn Martin said the van, which was funded by the ACT Government 12 months ago, had made a world of difference by being able to go to where the children lived.
Ms Martin said it eliminated a barrier to them receiving help.
“They don’t have transportation. They’re catching buses after school … It just makes everything so much easier if we can just roll up to their place,” she said.
Ms Martin said the van was kitted out for the therapist to work out of and simply parked outside the home so the child could come out and have a session there or drive elsewhere, such as to a park.
“It’s tailored to whatever the needs are of the children,” she said,
“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from children, but also from their mums.”
Beryl had also received interest in the van from other services within the family sector, such as Carinya House, which had used it, and Doris Women’s Refuge, which could be starting a program next month.
But Ms Martin said that while there was a lot of interest, Beryl had to be mindful not to overload the therapist or take on too much.
The Collaborative – comprising Hands Across Canberra (which administers the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund), the Snow Foundation, and the John James Foundation – focuses on grassroots projects that assist vulnerable community members, providing immediate support and fostering long-term, sustainable change from the ground up.
Grants typically range from $5000 to $50,000, with opportunities for larger, multi-year funding based on project requirements, enabling a diverse range of impactful initiatives.
The Snow Foundation has a deeper focus on preventing family and domestic violence, youth at risk, an interest in First Nations-led initiatives and women and girls – with gender at the heart of their decision-making and processes.
John James Foundation prioritises health and disability, and Hands Across Canberra targets community wellbeing.
Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron said the Canberra Foundations Collaborative was dedicated to investing in the community and strengthening the for-purpose sector beyond funding.
“This year, we’ll continue strengthening connections through events and peer learning, amplifying collective impact for those in need across Canberra. By uniting resources and networks, we empower organisations to create meaningful change.”
Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs said the Collaborative was created to help reduce the red tape that many for-purpose organisations face when it comes to funding.
“By streamlining this process, and working together, these community organisations can spend more time delivering the complex and diverse services the people of Canberra need,” she said.
“We also see these grants as an opportunity to connect organisations with common goals or similar challenges, to share learnings and collaborate, and grow our collective impact.”
John James Foundation CEO Joe Roff said that over the past three years, the Canberra Foundations Collaborative has supported 191 projects with over $4.3 million.
“This year, we’re inviting everyone to explore how this grant round can support their vision for change, Together, we’re enabling a more inclusive, collaborative and vibrant Canberra,” he said.
To learn more about the grants and how to apply, visit the Snow Foundation, Hands Across Canberra and John James Foundation websites.
Loading ...
