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<\/p>\nTWO local youth support organisations have received a major boost from Geelong region community banks which will support an expansion of their vital charitable programs.<\/p>\n
Bereavement service Wombat\u2019s Wish and Geelong Youth Engagement\u2019s (GYE) Kokoda Youth Program will each receive a $60,000 boost from local Community Bank branches in the latest outlay of the organisation\u2019s philantrophic donation program.<\/p>\n
Five local branches from Portarlington and Drysdale, Winchelsea, Anglesea and Lorne, Barwon Heads, Leopold and Lara pooled their donations and partnered with Bendigo Bank in recent months to provide the latest funding round.<\/p>\n
Community Bank Bellarine board member Chris Niven said the large-scale contributions were months in the making and would provide meaningful support for the local non-profits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought we need to sort of find a way to give some really substantial support, so started the conversation with the other community banks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder our model, it’s about supporting local communities in which we operate, and profit sharing back.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt’s a really collaborative effort. Everyone felt they were such a great causes, and it’s so exciting that that we’ve managed to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wombat\u2019s Wish provides support services for children and their families following the death of a parent or carer.<\/p>\n
Its additional funding will allow it to run an additional Anglesea weekend camp for up to 10 families, and partially fund the launch of its online lounge service that connects participants with support including from a new in-house psychologist.<\/p>\n
Wombat\u2019s Wish manager Nicki Dunne said the donations would provide \u201camazing\u201d support for the organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don’t receive any government funding, so it’s a real struggle to fund all of our programs and not charge our families and they go through their own financial constraints,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo without support from Bendigo Bank or any other donors, our programs just don’t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Geelong Youth Engagement, the money will go towards its flagship program that sends secondary school students and their mentors to the famous Second World War site in Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
The extra funding will allow GYE to send two full groups to the Kokoda Trail this year for a total of 24 \u2013 the largest cohort it has ever had involved in its program.<\/p>\n
GYE partners with 17 schools across the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast regions to accommodate students that are experiencing challenges outside of their schooling, such as family disputes, mental health issues or homelessness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something about being in the jungle for nine days without any technology and outside influences, that they just come back different people,\u201d program co-ordinator Kelly Taylor said.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s obviously a huge sense of accomplishment by completing the track, but also maybe they’ll come back with a new focus and sometimes new appreciation of what they\u2019ve got at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Taylor also echoed the sentiments about importance of<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re very lucky we live in Geelong because it’s a very giving place,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important too for our young people that the support comes from people like the community banks \u2013 we hope that there\u2019s two-way support in that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Niven said the local banks were proud to back the generous local organisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just so moving for us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re genuinely excited for them and it makes everything we do so worthwhile.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re like-minded community kind of people, and it\u2019s just a magnificent thing to be able to be involved in helping them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO local youth support organisations have received a major boost from Geelong region community banks which will support an expansion of their vital charitable programs. Bereavement service Wombat\u2019s Wish and Geelong Youth Engagement\u2019s (GYE) Kokoda Youth Program will each receive a $60,000 boost from local Community Bank branches in the latest outlay of the organisation\u2019s […]<\/p>\n