Gymea Baptist | empower / love / engage

Project 3

Over the past years the reputation of SCW has drawn many referrals. SCW sees 90 clients on an average week in counselling and groups. Many of these clients are in financial distress and do not have the financial means to access a private counselling and community education service. Therefore around 25% of our referrals for groups and counselling require subsidised assistance. This funding enables us to engage families and children from a position of financial distress with the emotional & educational resources we have which offer them hope. Added to this we would like to begin a new initiative called Kids Hope where we join with GBC and mobilise a group of volunteers to visit a local school once per week and mentor an identified ‘at risk’ child and build a relationship of hope with them. Our funding will enable the following;

Kids hope is a new initiative in partnership with World Vision, Gymea Baptist Church (GBC) and Kareela Public School. Kids Hope is a mentoring program that helps recognised at-risk Australian children. Through a partnership between local churches and primary schools, Kids Hope works to improve the education, self confidence and wellbeing of children in a targeted local school.

Subsidised sessions for Rock and Water which is an educational program for boys aged 9-12 years that uses physical exercise to demonstrate functional and positive techniques for interactions with their peers and others. This year we plan to also run a father/son Rock and Water weekend called Men building Men.

Deliberate Self Injury (DSI) In 2009 we piloted an Australian first DSI support group at no cost to the adolescents and young women who participated. In 2010 we will extend this project by running another group to support young women who struggle with harmful coping behaviours such as DSI, eating difficulties and drug or alcohol abuse.

Subsidised positions in the Rainbows Grief Support Group for children who have suffered a loss through death, divorce or separation. In 2009 35 Children were given a secure place to express and understanding their feelings, leading to acceptance of what has happened and healing. Single parenting often puts increased financial pressure on these families.

 General Counselling – We average 70 counselling sessions per week. Subsidised counselling allows access for families and individuals with low income who could not otherwise attend and access support.



Project Update: Funding Report