Six Aussie charities share $170,000 in grants from People First Bank Foundation

The 2024 year is ending on a high note for six Aussie charities who will share $170,000 in grants from the People First Bank Foundation.

The Foundation today announced the recipients of its current grant round, including a $60,000 grant for domestic violence support service DV Safe Phone.

With many charities experiencing a downturn in fundraising this year, the grants offer a much-needed boost to support vulnerable Australians.

This year’s grants cover a wide range of issues and areas across the country, from supporting victims of domestic violence (DV), literacy development in Alice Springs, young people who have been displaced from their home in South Australia, vulnerable women on the Darling Downs and at-risk youth in Western Sydney and Brisbane.

DV Safe Phone will receive $60,000 as the inaugural recipient of the new People First Grant to support their One Phone, One Life program.  This program sees 800 DV Safe Phone Survival Kits provided to victims of domestic and family violence across Australia, with a focus on rural and regional communities.

People First Bank Foundation Executive Officer Paul Olds said DV Safe Phone provided an important service for those in need of a lifeline to call for help.

“DV Safe Phone is a young and dynamic organisation who has created an extremely impressive network of collaborators via phone drop off collection points and DV agencies,” Mr Olds said.

“Disappointingly, domestic violence is growing area of need with an estimated 20% of the population reporting experiencing it since the age of 15.

“DV Safe Phone helps protect the lives of domestic and family violence survivors by forming part of their safety and escape planning. They are a great example of growing stronger communities together.” 

DV Safe Phone Founder and CEO Ashton Wood said the grant came at the perfect time for their charity, with increasing demand for free mobile phones for domestic violence survivors.

“Thanks to the incredible support of the People First Bank Foundation, DV Safe Phone will be able to increase our output, to provide 800 domestic violence survivors with a mobile phone that can be used to keep them safe and connected to support,” Mr Wood said.

“The funds will be used to train more volunteers and purchase the required phone replacement screens, batteries, charging cables and SIMs, to process more phones than ever before.”

The Foundation welcomes back previous charity partner Youth Insearch who will receive the $50,000 Our Shout Workplace Giving Grant to support at-risk youth in Western Sydney. This grant is funded by regular donations from People First Bank employees to the Foundation via workplace giving.

Mr Olds said, “Youth Insearch have achieved some impressive results while supporting vulnerable kids to heal from trauma and improve their mental wellbeing.

“We are thrilled to again support their important work helping at-risk youth break harmful cycles and create positive, lasting change.”

The following four charities will each receive a $15,000 Growing Stronger Community Grant:

• Backpacks 4 SA Kids – Provides backpacks full of essentials to children and young people who have been displaced from their homes in South Australia.
• Raise Foundation – A 20-week one-on-one mentoring program for at-risk children in a Brisbane school.
• Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation – Early Literacy and Language training and support for pre-school educators, parents and the community in Alice Springs.
• Protea Place Women’s Support Centre – Practical and flexible support for vulnerable women on the Darling Downs including women facing homelessness and domestic violence.

“While providing the funding for these programs is critical, the support provided by the Foundation and the People First Bank community does not stop there.” Mr Olds said.

“We will work closely with these charities over the next 12 months to strengthen their impact through opportunities including volunteering, awareness activities, donations of IT equipment and more.”