Millions granted to keep Canberra collaborating

Community organisations dedicated to supporting Canberrans recently gathered in Deakin for a celebration hosted by ACT charity Hands Across Canberra.

Dozens of people from different organisations met to receive their share of $1.5 million to support their hard work as part of the Canberra Foundation’s Collaborative grants scheme.

The grantees were treated to a morning tea and were all recognised in the speeches delivered by newly appointed Hands Across Canberra chief executive officer Genevieve Jacobs, who said the work Hands Across Canberra does alongside its partners to support businesses across the region helped the Canberra community stay united.

“We believe that collaboration really is Canberra’s super power,” Genevieve said. “At Hands Across Canberra, we want to support the whole Canberra community.

“It’s about giving where we live and ensuring Canberrans can support their neighbours in need.”

Genevieve credited the work not only of the grant recipients but also partners Snow Foundation, John James Foundation and Aspen Medical for their generosity in helping keep the Canberra community running.

Orange Sky, the world’s first free mobile laundry and shower service providing a free laundry service with great conversation was one of the grant recipients.

Siobhan Lane has been volunteering with Orange Sky for two years and said she loved every moment she got to spend with the group.

“It’s about providing fundamental dignity to people,” Siobhan said.

“It’s a very simple service but it’s very meaningful.”

Fellow volunteer Anna Jacob said the work they do for the community was extremely rewarding.

“It’s just about respect, you turn up for a shift, people show up with their laundry that needs to be done and while that’s happening we get to have a chat about anything and everything,” Anna said.

“What we do is quite simple but we believe it really makes a difference to people.”

Orange Sky prides itself on quality conversations with people without invading their privacy.

“We never question why people are using our services, we are just happy to have a chat about what they’re interested in and we have made great friends through it,” Siobhan said.

The grant money it was given couldn’t have come at a better time for the group.

“Our dryer recently broke which is terrible timing with the Canberra winter, so that will be the first thing we do with the money,” Anna said.

“After that it will be ongoing maintenance to the truck which does get a bit expensive.

“It will keep the van on the road and keep us offering our services.”

The van travels all around Canberra offering its services where they are needed.

Starting in Brisbane in 2014, Orange Sky has been operating 14 shifts for 272 volunteers a week since 2016.

Anna said their services were always accessible.

“We operate 356 days a year and the shift times can vary, it’s a very busy van.”

Orange Sky was just one of the 60 organisations supported by the Canberra Foundations Collaborative grant with others including The Humour Foundation, dedicated to enhancing patient experience and improving the health and wellbeing of vulnerable Australians, and Yerrabi Yurwang, an Aboriginal community controlled organisation striving to deliver quality, culturally appropriate services to empower generations of strong and thriving Aboriginal children and families.

Genevieve said, going forward, she was hoping that Hands Across Canberra along with its partners could continue to contribute to the Canberra community.

“Let’s all go forth and build a better world together,” she said.

To learn more about its work and how to apply for upcoming grant opportunities visit Hands Across Canberra.