Parramatta Street Feast attracts big turnout after COVID hiatus

After a two-year COVID interruption more than 300 people came out to share a meal at the Parramatta Street Feast.

PAYCE Foundation Director – Will Morgan, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis and PAYCE Foundation Director – Dominic Sullivan

(left to right) PAYCE Foundation Director – Will Morgan, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis and PAYCE Foundation Director – Dominic Sullivan

The Parramatta Street Feast is a response to Pope Francis’ call to build a more inclusive, welcoming and generous society.

About 150 clients enjoyed delicious food, company and wonderful entertainment, including from the Sydney Street Choir.

The Street Feast was created in conjunction with, and is sponsored by, the PAYCE Foundation, Paynter Dixon, St Merkorious Charity and the Diocese of Parramatta.

Bishop Vincent Long says that in building an inclusive and welcoming society: “What better way than sharing a meal with the disadvantaged and those on the margins”.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said it was wonderful day after the long lockdown and isolation of COVID-19.

“It is amazing what the simple act of sharing a meal can do, in reminding us of our common humanity and the basic need for social connections”. he said.

“It was an uplifting experience for all involved.”

Joshua running in top gear after completing Kick Start program

Joshua Doherty is thriving, holding down a job at his local Woolies, enjoying tinkering with his spotlessly presented 1997 BMW car and generally enjoying life like any young man should.

Joshua Doherty – enjoying life after graduating from the Kick Start program.

You can see the joy in his eyes, happy in his skin and ready for the next chapter in the book of life.

But just over 12 months ago his life was stuck in neutral, with little hope of finding first gear.

A debilitating bout of anxiety, the scourge of this young generation, seemingly turbo-charged by the COVID lockdowns, had him house bound.

“I hadn’t been to school, and I had really bad anxiety,” Joshua said.

“I couldn’t catch a bus and I had a lot of trouble talking to people.”

But just one act can change a life or in this case an email. The Salvation Army referred Joshua to the Kick Start program.

It was a life changing moment, and with the support and encouragement of his father, Joshua went for an interview and started the unique hospitality training course soon after.

A PAYCE Foundation social enterprise, Kick Start operates a fleet of mobile cafes on construction sites and provides training and employment opportunities for young people.

Kick Start aims to partner with developers, builders, industry stakeholders and community organisations to deliver positive social outcomes through jobs and training for young people.

During their employment with Kick Start, trainees participate in a six-month program that includes practical on-the-job training, formal qualifications in hospitality and one-on-one mentoring to help them succeed.

Joshua was nervous on his first day – like any new employee, but he said the support and training soon helped him build his confidence, including dealing with the public.

“Everyone was super supportive, and they understood what I needed,” he said.

“Being in the environment of working with people, allowed me to train myself and fight the anxiety.

“I saw my sister yesterday and she said the difference between me then and now is just night and day.”

Joshua is happy with what he has achieved since graduating and is considering further study down the track.

Jackson returns to help more men build a new life

A familiar face has returned to Adele Training Farm, near Coffs Harbour to run a revamped work skills training program for drug rehabilitation clients attending Adele House.

Jackson Walsh returns for a new challenge at Adele Training Farm.

Former Adele House manager Jackson Walsh said he was delighted to return in the role as the training farm’s skills co-ordinator. Jackson said he enjoyed his four years at Adele House and missed the work of assisting men live a drug-free life.

“I always enjoyed the face-to-face interaction with the men and this job really is divine intervention because I get to interact with them and assist them,” Jackson said. “And I have found another way to help build this life-changing social enterprise.”

Under the new program, men gain valuable work skills on the farm which produces blueberry and blackberries for the commercial market.
The 40-bed drug rehabilitation centre has just celebrated two years since its official opening and is regarded as one of the best in Australia.
Mr Walsh said he hoped that most of the men attending for rehabilitation would participate in the farm skills program.
Work includes assisting on the blueberry and blackberry farm, building and maintenance and tending a new vegetable plot which will supply fresh produce to the rehabilitation centre’s kitchen.

“When they arrive here at Adele House the only thing the clients have in common is drug use and sometimes crime,” he said.
“By the time they have been involved in installing an irrigation system or taking down a blueberry net or building garden beds they have a shared experience that isn’t drug use.”

Mr Walsh said the skills learnt at the farm assisted clients get a job and to come home from a hard day’s work and not drink or take drugs.

“Turning up to 12 hours of work a week is a good stepping-stone and then building up to 38 hours a week further down the track when they have their addiction under control.” “It gives clients discipline and teaches them how to manage their time.”

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said: “We are delighted Jackson has accepted the challenge of leading what is a critical component in the program focused on assisting men overcome addiction and return to their families and society.”

2022 Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge

The Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge returned to Martin Place with an enthusiastic crowd enjoying an ensemble of classic songs.

Paynter Dixon, APA, Macquarie, George Weston Foods, Minter Ellison and PwC joined major sponsor the PAYCE Foundation for the annual event.

The Sydney Street Choir, which was formed in 2001, provides members with a unique bridge to social services for those most in need.

The competition was fierce, but the big winner on the day was everyone who attended. It was a great warm-up for the Street Choir which is heading to Bathurst on tour under the direction of choir director James Paul.

Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge returns to full voice

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, the Sydney CBD was an unnerving ghost town and gathering for a concert was out of the question, so the highlight of the Sydney Street Choir calendar – the annual Corporate Challenge had to be cancelled.

But this week at the final rehearsal for the return of the Corporate Challenge, the choirs were lifting the roof off the St Stephen’s Uniting Church in Macquarie Street.

Sydney Street Choir Director James Paul put the choirs through their paces, including ironing out some minor glitches.

All the familiar faces of the Street Choir were back, pleased to be able to enjoy the rehearsal.

The PAYCE Foundation and Paynter Dixon team will be singing Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – a number one hit in Australia in 1980 – written by the late Freddie Mercury who played rhythm guitar live for the first time when the band performed it.

This year, George Weston Foods, Coca-Cola, Macquarie, PwC, MinterEllison and APA Group have taken up the choir challenge.

The Sydney Street Choir, which was formed in 2001, provides members with a unique bridge to social services for those most in need.

It is also a focal point for its members, particularly in hard times, providing friendship, community interaction and practical support.

The Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge, an initiative of the PAYCE Foundation, was first held in 2017. The challenge has attracted some of Sydney’s finest corporate choirs.

PAYCE continues to be a major supporter of the choir as sponsor of the Corporate Challenge and funding a social worker to assist choir members.

The Corporate Challenge will culminate at a free concert in Martin Place at midday on Wednesday October 19.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said: “It is wonderful that the Corporate Challenge is back after last year’s hiatus – it is an uplifting experience for the corporate choir members.”

“I look forward to joining the other corporate choirs and the Sydney Street Choir in Martin Place for the finale.”

Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge returns to full voice

Finding their voice – the Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge is back.

Joany helping young people to be their very best

Joany Badenhorst, Australia’s premier female para snowboarder knows from her own life the ups and downs young people face. Now, she is using all that experience to help other young people through her work with Stand Tall – a charity that is helping thousands of our youth with their mental wellbeing. Joany writes on her experiences as an Ambassador for Stand Tall.

Joany Badenhorst will be taking the message of Stand Tall to regional youth.

Looking back at my very first day with Stand Tall as a volunteer in 2016, I could never have imagined the impact it would have on my life and the way I chose to live it. From the clusters of smiles walking through the doors for the first time, to having my life changed repeatedly by speaker after speaker, I knew I had something to contribute to the movement and to the event.

Considering the incredible community that raised me after my accident, that motivated me and gave me hope for my future, I felt a sense of obligation to share the things that I had learnt through surviving and thriving despite adversity, with those who needed to hear it most. Incredibly, Jeanine and Angie asked me to be an official ambassador and my journey started.

This marked the start of an incredible relationship between me and The PAYCE Foundation. For the last 4 years, The PAYCE foundation has sponsored my role as an ambassador within Stand Tall, enabling me to broaden my reach and extend my time spent with the team in further developing our dream. But like with most things, sometimes you need to be thrown some obstacles to encourage movement. Covid came and brought our plans to expand and grow to an abrupt halt. Luckily, it’s almost impossible to put a stop to people with a mission, and so we hosted our first ever live stream event in 2021. I was able to co-host this event, which reached out to over 200,000 students across Australia. This forced move showed us that our mission doesn’t have to be limited to the students in the theatre.

And so, our 2022 Stand Tall Event was launched with the goal of going regional. For the very first time, we are heading out to Dubbo, Tamworth, and the South Coast to start what we hope will become the first of many regional events. https://www.standtallevent.com/regional-tour

Thanks to the incredible and constant support of The PAYCE Foundation, I can not only join the traveling team to all locations, but also host these events for the very first time.

Life is unpredictable. It is ever changing and ever challenging but if you have the right people in your corner, no dream is unachievable.

Day at the Bay returns with a big turn out

The Day at the Bay – the major fundraiser for St Merkorious Charity – has returned after an enforced COVID hiatus, bigger and better than ever.

PAYCE Foundation Director Will Morgan enjoying a Kick Start coffee with St Merkorious Founder Paula Nicolas.

Hundreds turned out at Leichardt for the event which included a run and a walk, fun activities including a climbing wall, plus a free barbecue. The charity, which provides meals to the homeless, disabled, elderly and families struggling to feed their children, has grown exponentially and now prepares more than 4000 per week to the inner west community.

The PAYCE Foundation has been a long-term supporter of St Merkorious which is now supplying hampers to children who don’t have a proper breakfast. Founder Paula Nicolas said with the rising cost of living more people are struggling to put food on the table. She said the fundraiser was critical to funding the increasing demand for services.

“It is so exciting to be able to have the Day at the Bay after two years; we have great weather and it is wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves,” Paul said. “We are seeing so many families who are in real need of assistance and we helping as many as we can with food and also clothing.”

The PAYCE Foundation donated a record $100,000 to the charity.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said: “We are so pleased to support Day at the Bay and the St Merkorious Charity which is assisting vulnerable people.” “They are easing the burden for many families and people are going hungry – that is vital work.”

Corporate Philanthropy can tackle our pressing social challenges

Corporate philanthropy can catalyse change and deliver major social outcomes if the right model is used, according to PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan says ESSC model can solve homelessness in NSW.

Speaking on a panel at Philanthropy Australia’s National Conference, Mr Sullivan outlined the success of one of Australia’s biggest collective impact projects – the End Street Sleeping Collaboration (ESSC).

Mr Sullivan was joined on the panel by ESSC CEO Graham West and Erin Longbottom – Nursing Unit Manager – Homelessness Health Service, St Vincent Health Network Sydney.

The PAYCE Foundation was the founding philanthropic partner of the ESSC project, which aims to reduce street sleeping 50 per cent by 2025, and end street sleeping by 2030.

Mr Sullivan, who is also a Director of the End Street Sleeping Collaboration, said the PAYCE Foundation was there at the establishment of the organisation based on the model of collaboration.

The ESSC brings together the major Not-for-Profit organisations and the NSW Government to work together to end rough sleeping in NSW.

The project uses the international methodology of the Institute of Global Homelessness and the ESSC has partnered with Microsoft to create an innovative digital platform which captures real-time data on street sleeping.

ESSC is one of just two cities in the world to meet its targets – already cutting street sleeping by 25 per cent.

ESSC continues to build its support network, with the Berg Family Foundation, the Grahame Map Foundation and the Property Industry Foundation all joining the Collaboration.

The PAYCE Foundation was attracted to the Collaboration because of the commitment of the NSW Government and the sector to work collaboratively to solve the issue.

In addition to funding, the PAYCE Foundation is directly involved in the project, providing governance support, and assistance to several project steering committees.

Mr Sullivan said: “We believe street sleeping is solvable. We are more than a funder of the collaboration – indeed we are a founding partner, directly participating in the project.”

Kick Start raises funds for homeless youth on construction sites

Social enterprise Kick Start has a mission to help young people get a start in the hospitality sector, so the team again jumped at the chance this year to help raise funds for homeless youth.

The Kick Start team proudly pitched in for Hard Hat Day, raising $7565 for homeless youth.

With its mobile food trailers located on construction sites across Sydney, Kick Start is uniquely placed to raise funds for the Property Industry Foundation-fundraiser Hard Hat Day.

The Property Industry Foundation (PIF) believes that “every young Australian deserves a safe, secure home environment – which provides a foundation of opportunity from which they can determine their future”.

Sadly, thousands of young people do not have a roof over their head – PIF partners with its supporters to build accommodation.

Hard Hat Day is one of its major fundraisers.

This year, Kick Start raised $3782.50 amount across its construction sites – this was matched by the PAYCE Foundation for total of $7565.

Long-term partner Charter Hall also matched Kick Start’s fundraising effort taking the grand total $11,347.50.

A PAYCE Foundation social enterprise, Kick Start operates a fleet of mobile cafes on construction sites and provides training and employment opportunities for young people.

Kick Start aims to partner with developers, builders, industry stakeholders and community organisations to deliver positive social outcomes through jobs and training for young people from social housing and disadvantaged backgrounds.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan congratulated the Kick Start team for their fundraising efforts.

“Every day the Kick Start managers are focused on assisting young people build a brighter future,” he said.

“The Property Industry Foundation has the same mission, and Hard Hat Day is the perfect way to partner with a results-focused organisation and assist youth facing homelessness.

“The Kick Start team, including current trainees, is passionate about helping other young people facing hardship and that’s reflected in the fundraising efforts.”

PAYCE Foundation announces major partnership with clothing charity

The PAYCE Foundation today announced a major funding agreement with innovative clothing charity, Thread Together – pledging $300,000 over three years to a program which assists domestic violence victims.

(From Left) Paynter Dixon Director – Stephen Wainwright, Paynter Dixon Head of Construction – David Trethewy, PAYCE Foundation Director – Will Morgan, Thread Together Chief Executive Officer – Anthony Chesler, Stephanie Hynes Burdick – Group General Manager of People & Culture and Matthew Greene -Paynter Dixon Executive General Manager

Thread Together collects end-of-line, brand new stock from fashion retailers around the country.

With the support of volunteers, the clothes are sorted in readiness to be distributed to people in need through a national network of charities and social service agencies.

Since 2012, Thread Together has provided 600,000 people in need with clothes. The clothes have been diverted from going to landfill. Thread Together has over 700 fashion partners and 500 charity partners.

It has launched a program to assist more women and families fleeing domestic violence, installing clothing hubs in women’s shelters across the country.

Many women and children arrive at a shelter with only the clothes they are wearing.

PAYCE Foundation’s $100,000-a-year commitment will go towards establishing another 100 hubs which include modular wardrobes.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said the project closely aligned with the foundation’s commitment to support domestic violence victims.

“We are dedicated to assisting the large number of women and children who are fleeing domestic violence and are extremely vulnerable,” Mr Sullivan said.

“We are delighted to partner with Thread Together on this vital project which gives women and their children support, dignity and the start they need to rebuild their lives.”

Thread Together Chief Executive Officer Anthony Chesler explains that survivors of domestic violence often plan their escape for many months and almost always arrive at a refuge with nothing except the clothes that they are wearing and a few possessions in their handbag.

“Being able to provide an immediate solution to women and children on arrival, affording them choice of brand-new clothes, will help to restore some dignity during a very traumatic period,” Mr Chesler said.

“Thread Together is immensely grateful for the support from the PAYCE Foundation which will ensure the immediacy of need for brand-new clothing for vulnerable women and children is met on arrival at a women’s shelter.”

Thread Together runs a fun volunteer program which sorts the large volume of donated clothes.

PAYCE Foundation partner Paynter Dixon has pledged to join the Thread Together volunteer program – committing 20 staff every 12 weeks.