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The Foundation supports a diverse range of welfare initiatives, focusing on communities in which our staff live and work. We support programs that seek to improve the quality of life and prospects for disadvantaged communities.
 Mission Australia
For more than 140 years, Mission Australia’s vision has been to help disadvantaged people and communities. Their services centre around family support, youth initiatives for disadvantaged young people, housing, employment and training initiatives for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.
The Macquarie Group Foundation established a major partnership with Mission Australia in 2003 to assist research into key social issues confronting Australian society. The core component of the partnership is a contribution of $A750,000 over three years to fund the Research and Social Policy Unit. This research guides Mission Australia’s policy development, ensuring its employment programs and community services continue to deliver to those most in need. The Foundation’s contribution also means Mission Australia can redirect money previously spent on research into providing better community services.
The Foundation has recently agreed to fund the expanded activities of Mission's Research and Social Policy Unit. The more than $A1 million investment over three years (from 2007 - 2010) includes a $A50,000 contribution towards a new Social Innovation in Action Series.
The Prince’s Trust, UK
The Prince’s Trust was established by HRH Prince Charles in 1976 and helps an estimated 25,000 young people each year. The Trust has become the UK's leading youth charity, offering a range of opportunities including training, personal development, business start up support, mentoring and advice.
The Macquarie Group Foundation and The Prince’s Trust have entered a partnership to enable young unemployed and under-employed British adults the opportunity to set up their own businesses. The partnership offers low-interest start-up business loans and ongoing mentor support to young people in the West Midlands area aged between 18 and 30 who have a business plan but have been unable to obtain financial backing. It follows a pilot program, which helped establish five businesses in the Birmingham area.
Inspire Foundation, Australia and USA
The Inspire Foundation was formed in 1996 in response to Australia’s then escalating rates of youth suicide. Inspire delivers three national programs: Reach Out, Beanbag and ActNow. Reach Out provides information and support to help young people get through tough times, Beanbag partners with youth centres around Australia to provide educational, employment and social opportunities for disadvantaged youth and ActNow provides resources and skills to help young people take action on the social issues that affect them and their community.
With four million visits since its launch in 1998, Reach Out has contributed to a 40 per cent reduction in youth suicide rates over that period. Despite this success, it is estimated that two-thirds of young people aged 17-21 don’t yet know of Reach Out’s existence. The Macquarie Group Foundation has provided three years funding to launch a national schools program, making Reach Out available to more than 100,000 students and building a greater awareness of the service among teenagers, teachers and school counsellors.
The Foundation has also recently provided funding to help launch Inspire's Reach Out program in the US.
Youngcare, Australia
In Australia, more than 6,500 young people with chronic illness or injury live in aged-care facilities because there is no alternative care option. Now, Australian organisation Youngcare is pioneering a solution that is gaining international attention. It has built Australia’s first nursing home specifically designed for young people with high care needs, with three years’ funding support from the Macquarie Group Foundation.
David Conry established Youngcare in 2005 when his wife Shevaune’s multiple sclerosis progressed to the point where she needed 24-hour care. Located in Brisbane, the 14 apartments have large bedrooms and living areas, as well as kitchen facilities for family and friends to use. There is a communal area for residents to get together, 24-hour specialist care and two additional apartments set aside for visiting families.
The Big Issue Community Street Soccer, Australia
The Big Issue seeks to provide ways for homeless and unemployed people to participate in society as independently as possible. The Big Issue’s Community Street Soccer helps people reconnect with the community, build self esteem and independence. The program uses physical activity in the form of organised team sports as a catalyst for change with people of varying ability encouraged to participate. Feedback has shown that involvement in Street Soccer has improved the life of 77 per cent of participants.
Around the world, more than 30,000 homeless and marginalised people are training for Street Soccer teams every day of the year, with the ultimate hope of competing in the Homeless World Cup, which is held once a year in a rotating city.
BUILD, USA
BUILD supports young people in disadvantaged communities in inner-city Chicago. It provides school-based prevention programs, intervention programs for disaffected teenagers, juvenile rehabilitation and mentoring and education initiatives.
The Macquarie Group Foundation has provided capacity building funding to support their technology upgrades. Macquarie’s funding will enhance BUILD’s capacity by bringing its databases, reports, program measurement tools and website systems up to date.
Youth in Motion, Canada
Youth in Motion is a national not for profit organisation focused on developing the employability and life skills of people in Canada. Their programs are designed to provide access to career information and increase awareness about employment opportunities. The Macquarie Group Foundation has provided support for Youth in Motion’s Opportunities Unlimited program.
Based in Toronto, the nine-month program offers skills-building, mentoring and practical work experience. The program aims to improve the employability of young, at-risk women who are not currently employed or enrolled in an education program.
Other welfare initiatives
Other welfare programmes supported by the Foundation and our staff include: Canadian Red Cross, Caritas Australia, CARE International, Youth Off The Streets, Opportunity International, Make a Wish Foundation, Mirabel, Pathways Foundation, Riding for the Disabled (Hong Kong), Singapore Red Cross and Lifeline WA.
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