RECENT PROJECTS
The ACF support our community with grant funding, and also via civic leadership & community collaboration. We work alongside local agencies, organisations and community members to make a difference and create change within our community.
HOMELESSNESS FUND + COMMUNITY BANK ALBANY BIG SLEEP OUT
The ACF support people facing homelessness in our community by providing financial grants year-round. This could be to assist with accommodation costs, purchasing whitegoods, or for other essential items. These funds are raised locally, and distributed to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, via our Homelessness Fund. Our annual Sleep Out event has been in existence for over 10 years, and the most recent event in 2024 raised over $50,000 to assist those facing homelessness. Visit our events page or social media for more information about the annual event and how you can support or donate towards this great cause.
SUPPORTING LOCAL STUDENTS
The ACF has an ongoing program to support primary and secondary students in obtaining education in the Great Southern. In 2024 the ACF supported 436 primary school kids whose families were financially unable to purchase the textbooks they require for learning, or participate in swimming lessons, excursions and school camps that all children should have access to, regardless of financial status. We also supported 24 high school students from Albany Senior High School who were unable to purchase a compulsory device required by the school curriculum, due to family financial hardship. $6,619 was granted for 24 refurbished laptops to ensure all students had access to the devices required for learning.
Here is a heartwarming response from some of the recipients from Mount Barker Community College;
“Some of our Aboriginal families can be under quite a bit of strain financially due to having numerous family members staying in the one house for extended periods of time. One of our families had been able to put enough money together to pay for one child’s swimming lessons but could not make payment for another. The relief of the grandfather’s face when he was told that the College had funds to cover the other child was priceless. To have the funds to ensure all students can access swimming lessons and the Year 6 Camp is incredible. A big thank you to everyone involved with the Albany Community Foundation, as the support provided today makes such a difference into the future for our students.”
GREAT SOUTHERN COMMUNITY HUB 2023 - 2024
Over a two year period, the ACF actively supported Pivot Support Services’ campaign to prevent the closure of its Community Hub, as we recognised the significant negative impact that was inevitably going to be felt on the most vulnerable in our community. The ACF worked alongside Pivot to develop a marketing pitch, highlighting the need to prevent the imminent closure and the opportunities to fund a three-year plan to ensure the survival and expansion of the existing program. We advocated for the project by engaging with our community foundation peers and Community Foundations Australia to promote the Hub to a wider philanthropic audience across WA, and were successful in obtaining funding from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, which meant the hub can continue to survive and assist hundreds of disadvantaged people and families needing immediate help. We are proud to be part of the success of this initiative, which highlights the strength of our working relationships with local agencies, and our philanthropic networks further afield.
The ACF strive to make a difference via civic leadership, and it is heartwarming to see these tangible, positive outcomes for our community. We extend a heartfelt thanks to the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
ACF HOUSING PROJECT 2022 - 2024
In 2022 in the midst of the housing crisis, a passionate ACF member approached us with an idea to repurpose unused accommodation units to provide a short-term housing option for small families in crisis. What sounded like a simple solution turned out to be a complex task, but with the enthusiastic collaboration of our front-line services and other supporters, the necessary arrangements including lease agreements and funding submissions to provide wraparound support for the proposed future tenant were progressed. ACF coordinated and planned the refurbishment of the units and by the end of 2024 numerous pro-bono tradespeople donated their skills and times, and generous donations were received, and the work was able to commence on site.
Thankyou to all involved, and a special thanks to John Shayler; ACF member and advocate, ACF Board members, Albany Country Women’s Association, The City of Albany, Anglicare WA Great Southern Advance Housing Ltd, Home Group Albany & Great Southern and their trades and suppliers, Community Bank Albany, Civitas Projects, private donors, WA State Government and Rebecca Stephens Member for Albany for donating your time, resources and advocacy to allow us to facilitate this amazing outcome for the community.
With a collaborative effort in project managing and undertaking the refurbishment works, we have successfully handed over 5 of the units for occupation, which are currently managed by Advance Housing, with tenants supported by Anglicare WA.
