Hope News - Autumn 2024

Stories of hope in action THANKS TO YOU

Your Impact

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers. BaptistCare HopeStreet cannot do its work without you!

Because of you, HopeStreet is able to provide new uniforms, equipment and

education workshops to students experiencing disadvantage, when starting high school. Your generosity has also provided men with the opportunity to change their behaviour and break the cycle of domestic and family violence through our men’s Facing Up Groups.

From Charles to you!

Dear friend, Please enjoy the latest news on your incredible impact. In this issue of Hope News, you’ll discover the difference made by your generous gifts for a young student like James – thank you for giving him hope for a bright education through our Transition to High School program. You’ll also be encouraged by the testimony of Mark, who completed our Men’s Behavioural Change program, Facing Up. And, as always, you’ll find our latest fundraising event happening next month. Remember, these stories of hope are all thanks to you!

Charles CEO, BaptistCare

David wants to leave a legacy of giving hope

As a long-time regular giver and someone who has committed themselves to charity, David understands the importance of helping others.

“I was always raised by my parents to give back. It’s the career I’ve chosen by working in the not-for-profit space in the community, and hopefully the lesson I continue to instil in my children,” David said.

It’s this attitude of giving that prompted David to leave a gift in his will to BaptistCare.

“I have seen the tangible work that BaptistCare HopeStreet provides to men, women, and children in our community. The impact they make, and how they help transform lives is incredible. Adding BaptistCare to my will is just another small way I can help make a difference.”

To find out how a gift in your will can be life changing for future generations call our team on 0482 161 162 or email wills@baptistcare.org.au

Did you know?

With just 1% of your will, you can create a brighter future for people facing homelessness, food insecurity and domestic or family violence. By leaving a gift in your will to BaptistCare, your legacy can be a source of light and healing in many lives for years to come.

Cycling toward a better future for our children

Over the past three years through the Chain Reaction Foundation, you have helped us provide safe and affordable housing for children and their families, put food on the table at our Breakfast Club, as well as fund counselling programs, school packs, and care packages for families starting over.

Next month, our BaptistCare HopeStreet cycling team is once again gearing up to ride 1,000km in 7 days, this time the route includes the Great Ocean Road and Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. The riding will be hard but the real challenge is to raise further funds for our HopeStreet children’s services.

First time rider, Samantha Hall, said the 7-day gruelling journey makes a practical difference to families and children escaping domestic and family violence. “With so much going on in the world, it’s easy to forget that there are mums and kids within our local communities that need our help too,” she said.

“The ride is ‘hard’ but that doesn’t equate to the emotional, mental and physical hardship that families go through when they are fleeing violence, conflict or are in need of the basics, such as a stable and safe roof over their heads.”

Would you like to be at the forefront of fighting homelessness and help children and their families find a safe home?

Donate today at chain-reaction.org.au /fundraisers

/baptistcarehopestreet

Help

91,666 drop-in clients

Provide

130,667 meals

Thanks to you we were able to

Deliver

9,019 counselling hours

Assist

30,681 clients at our food shops

Offer

13,087 chaplaincy support hours

House

850

709 tenants in our community housing units

Thank you for giving James hope for high school

Did you know that one in six Australian children and young people are living in poverty1? Research shows that those children living in disadvantage have access to fewer books and learning materials at home. These barriers were some of the reasons why James, 13, was hesitant to start high school.

But with HopeStreet Inner City Youth Space’s Transition to High School program, James was able to develop the skills and confidence he needed to advance his education.

“I was really grateful for the free school supplies because it meant that my mum didn’t have to spend all our money on them,” he said.

Community Development Leader, Tex Le Beck, said the four week program, aimed at students in years five and six, does much more than just provide school supplies.

“It offers emotional, practical and financial support to students and their families so they can fully participate in their education and future,” she said, adding, “We play lots of games and activities that include talks about the expectations of high school, and provide maps, directions, learning timetables, and schedules.”

Students also get to visit the local high school they will be attending. “We have found the program provides students with a calming lead in to high school, where they can get familiar with the structure and culture,” Tex said, adding, “The program also helps builds students’ resilience and confidence.”

James echoed this sentiment saying he felt more prepared.

“It helped me prepare for the extra work load (in high school) and feel a little bit more confident.”

The program also supports parents and carers. “We equip them with expectations on their child’s specific high school, as well as providing provide essential information about counsellors and other available supports, timings, uniform, stationery requirements, and transport,” Tex said.

“It also aims to reduce the stress, shame, or embarrassment that students and families may feel if they cannot afford what is needed. All these things work together to help the student start a better education.”

Sally, James’ Mum, said when she needed support the most, HopeStreet stepped in.

“Just to have that support of buying the books and stationery, and contacting the school to organise a uniform was a major help,” Sally said.

“The supplies given to James just before Christmas set him up so he was ready to go. By the time it came to him starting high school, he already had it all. It made it so much easier.”

If you’d like to donate, it’s not too late! Your gift of education will last a lifetime. Please fill out the enclosed slip or scan the QR code.

Thank you so much!

With your support we’re working with men to help break the cycle of domestic and family violence

“How are the men going to know how to manage their own triggers, their own trauma, if they haven’t understood or had explained to them what’s actually happening with them?” asks BaptistCare HopeStreet Counsellor and Group Facilitator, Graham.

This fundamental question underpins the Men’s Behavioural Change program, Facing Up, a program dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic and family violence which Graham co-facilitates with fellow Counsellor and Group Facilitator, Wendy.

“It provides men with the opportunity to face up to their violent behaviour and its damaging impact on their ex/ partners and children,” Graham said.

“The men in this program want to break the cycle of violence that’s been repeated in their family for generations. They realise that if they don’t change their violent behaviour, their sons and daughters are going to grow up thinking that this behaviour is ok - that’s the benchmark,” Wendy added.

It has helped me to walk away from, or handle situations better where I’ve felt misunderstood, hurt, or unsafe and it has given me the ability to feel both my physical and emotional responses during difficult times.”

Long-term client, Josh, credited the program for making him a better father and partner, and recommended it for men challenged with abusive behaviour.

“The ‘Facing Up’ program is a really good program. You feel safe and it has really good counsellors to support and teach you better ways. It has taught me lots of new strategies and changed the person I was,” he said.

Over the past year, BaptistCare HopeStreet has delivered 10,000 hours of counselling and group work.

The power of the group is that men can have conversations they can’t have anywhere else, in a nonjudgemental environment.

Past participant, Mark, said the one thing he took away from the course was ‘choice’.

“My response to a situation is my own. My behaviours and actions are my own. And I can choose a better path, always with the knowledge that I have gained.”

Mark also attributed the program to helping him understand his emotions better. “To name them, be aware of them and just sit with them at times.

An important part of the 20-week program is to have both male and female facilitators.

“It’s a way of modelling how a man and a woman can relate to each other in a respectful and trusting way, and on an equal footing. A lot of the men don’t know what a respectful relationship looks like,” said Wendy.

Thank you for helping break the cycle of abuse by supporting our Men’s Behavioural Change Program, Facing Up, as well as our other counselling and group programs that support people during challenging times.

To continue this important counselling and group work in our community donate today at hopestreet.org.au/donate

Hardship can happen to anyone at anytime Help us give hope

Stock photos: Some of the photos used in