Thread Together announce expansion of wardrobe capsule initiative

Clothing charity Thread Together has announced the expansion of its highly demanded wardrobe capsule service to address the immediate need for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Since its conception last year, the initiative has delivered 100 wardrobe capsules in shelters across Australia providing nearly 3000 women and children with essential clothing items on arrival.

The service will expand into another 100 women’s shelters by the end of 2024 as more women and children seek help to start a new life free of violence.

The major milestone was marked at an event alongside charity and financial partners Goodman, PAYCE Foundation, CommBank and the Saunders Family.

The PAYCE Foundation has committed $300,000 over three years to support the service launched 12 months ago.

Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler says whilst the success of the service is promising, the demand is still extremely high.

“Shelters across the country save lives but often didn’t have a dignified solution for clothing. Thread Together identified a gap to provide immediate clothing on arrival for women and children escaping domestic violence.”

We have developed a scalable solution that supports victim-survivors as they restore their dignity. Given the importance of the service and the demand, there is currently a waitlist of 30 shelters.”

Once settled into their temporary accommodation, recipients will have the opportunity to order a more substantial wardrobe for themselves and their children via Thread Together’s online service.

Sydney Zero to cut rough sleeping in Inner Sydney

Sydney Zero is an action-orientated, collaborative effort to make rough sleeping rare, brief and non-recurring in Inner Sydney.

The City of Sydney, the Department of Communities and Justice, homelessness services and philanthropists have come together to implement the Sydney Zero project.

The PAYCE Foundation is the founding philanthropic partner of ESSC.

The project is a place-based response, operating within the Sydney local government area. It is a person-centred approach, providing support to all people aged 18 and over who are living on-the-streets or in crisis or temporary accommodation.

A Local Leadership Group, drawn from senior representatives from participating organisations, will maintain oversight of the implementation and ongoing performance of Sydney Zero to ensure it meets its purpose.

Key to the success of Sydney Zero are the adoption of collaboration practices including embedding a simplified By-Name-List (BNL)

The BNL is a digital tool used on the street which gathers information from people and facilitates a coordinated response to their needs.

PAYCE Foundation and End Street Sleeping Director Dominic Sullivan said the BNL program had been simplified to assist workers on the front line access the information required to find solutions for rough sleeping.

“It also reduces trauma and disengagement for people experiencing homelessness by reducing the number of times they need to tell their story and by facilitating a speedier and more effective response to the person’s needs,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Too many people, particularly in Inner Sydney are sleeping rough, but we believe Sydney Zero will make a difference as it will deliver better case co-ordination – the key to finding long term solutions for homeless people living on the street.”

Domestic violence clothing service reaches milestone

A ground-breaking emergency clothing service supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence has reached a major milestone, with 100 wardrobes installed in shelters around Australia.

The Thread Together Wardrobe and Capsule Service fills the gap when women and children arrive at crisis accommodation to find safety, often with just the clothes they are wearing.

Bayside Women’s Shelter Chair Dr Christina Curry assists stocking a new clothing capsule.

The PAYCE Foundation has committed $300,000 over three years to support the service launched 12 months ago.

Each wardrobe is merchandised with a capsule of essential clothing for women and children and is continuously restocked by nominated fashion partners.

One third of new clothing goes from factory to landfill, whilst one in eight adults and one in six children do not have adequate access to essential clothing.

Thread Together saves end of line new clothing going to landfill and provides them to people in need.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said the milestone was a great achievement that was making a real difference on the ground.

“Shelter and clothing are a fundamental need for women and children who take the highly stressful decision to leave a violent home,” Mr Sullivan said.

“I like to congratulate the team at Thread Together for the outstanding work they’ve done to date – the clothing wardrobe’s which include fashionable new items make an enormous difference.”

Countdown on to the highlight event of Christmas

More than 200,000 people are expected to flock to the St Mary’s Cathedral for the highlight event of the festive season – Christmas at the Cathedral.

PAYCE Foundation will continue its long-standing association with the free event which starts on December 14, as presenting partner.

The event is for everyone, regardless of faith or cultural background, since the great Christmas message of peace and hope resonates across the community.

The light show projected onto the Cathedral is considered one of the best in the world.

There are also food stalls and entertainment to make it a fabulous family event.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said: “It has been a tough year for many families – Christmas at the Cathedral is a wonderful free event for everyone to enjoy.

“The light show is a wonderful experience and one not to miss.”

For more information: christmasatthecathedral.org.au

See the highlights from last year’s event below.

Community spirit alive and well at Sydney Street Feast

The sixth annual Sydney Street Feast proved to be another wonderful celebration of community as hundreds gathered in the forecourt of St Mary’s Cathedral to share a meal.

The event was created response to Pope Francis’ call to build a more inclusive, welcoming and generous society.

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

Charities Thread Together and St Vincent de Paul Society also attended to help those who may be struggling or living on the streets.

Below is the video from the fantastic day.

When there is help, there is hope says Jose

Adele House success story Jose Portia reflected on how the right support at the right time can help people turn their lives from a pathway to destruction to a life of fulfilment, at the recent Salvation Army thank you lunch.

Jose arrived at the PAYCE-foundation funded drug rehabilitation centre Adele House with a bag of clothes after his life had spiralled out of control thanks to a chronic Ice addiction.

Caption: Jose Portia and PAYCE Foundation Director Will Morgan celebrate the power of support programs.

The Salvation Army run a drug rehabilitation program for men at a purpose-built facility funded by the PAYCE Foundation and the NSW Government near Coffs Harbour.

Jose said he would not have been able to turn his life around, from addiction to helping others without the support of the PAYCE Foundation.
Beating addiction is about taking one step after another on the right path.

Jose said: “I could take steps because others took their steps.”

Jose, who now works for the Salvation Army, says it is very difficult for drug addicted men to find a way out without the proper support.

“The PAYCE Foundation programs provide pathways to education, training and employment; because of these programs, I am where I am today.”

PAYCE Foundation Director Will Morgan, who attended the lunch, said Jose was one of hundreds of men now drug free, reconnected with family and society thanks to the Adele House program.

“Drug addiction takes a huge toll on people and their family and comes at great cost to society – the PAYCE Foundation is dedicated, with its partners, to helping as many men as possible overcome substance abuse.”

Radio personality Joe Hildebrand was awarded Hero of Hope for his work with the Salvation Army.

Uplifting gesture of sharing a meal attracts big crowd

The Parramatta Street Feast – a call to share a meal with those battling life on the lonely fringe of society – attracted its biggest turnout yet.

The event is a response to World Day of the Poor and the call to build a more inclusive, welcoming and generous society.

Parramatta Street Feast – an event closing the gap with those on the margins of society.

About 150 clients enjoyed delicious food, company and wonderful entertainment, including from the Sydney Street Choir, at St Patrick’s Hall in Parramatta.

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 said that in building an inclusive and welcoming society there is no better way than sharing a meal with the disadvantaged and those on the margins.

Along with Bishop Long, State Member for Parramatta Donna Davis, the Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton and the City of Parramatta’s Lord Mayor Pierre Esber attended the event.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said too many people are struggling to survive on the streets, particularly with rents skyrocketing and the ever-increasing cost of living leading to increased food insecurity.

“The Street Feast is a simple act of humanity to let people know they are not alone. Sadly, more people are facing the prospect of living on the streets,” he said.

“The PAYCE Foundation is dedicated to helping people on the margins live a life of dignity and fulfilment and that’s why we are a founding supporter of this event.

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

Street Feasts to bring hope and care to homeless

The spiralling cost of living, including skyrocketing rents is pushing more people into poverty and onto the streets.

Now more than ever, those battling to live a basic life, need the help and generosity of people who can give.

That’s why this year’s Sydney and Parramatta Street Feasts will help connect people who have found themselves lost in the spiral that is homelessness and isolation.

The 2022 cohort of volunteers at Sydney Street Feast

The street feasts are a response to Pope Francis’ call to build a more inclusive, welcoming and generous society.

For those that volunteer, it is a heart-warming day of doing good for people who greatly appreciate the chance to share a meal in a caring place.

This year’s street feasts will be held at the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt on Friday November 17 and in Parramatta’s St Patricks Cathedral Hall on Saturday November 11.

Last year, hundreds of clients turned out to enjoy the delicious feast prepared by St Merkorious Charity and wonderful entertainment 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 Sydney and Parramatta Catholic Archdioceses.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said: “We are pleased to support the World Day of the Poor in a way that brings people together, particularly given the tough economic circumstances many people find themselves in.”

“It also represents the culmination of the work so many church and other community organisations do throughout the year to assist people in need.”

Choir challenge attracts big turnout

The weather threatened, but the power of voice prevailed for the annual Sydney Street Choir Corporate Challenge at Martin Place in the city’s CBD.

And the singing competition attracted one of the biggest crowds ever, with hundreds of workers stopping to listen to the choirs.

The corporate choirs stepping up with the Sydney Street Choir included Minter Ellison, APA and PwC.

The event was led by ABC broadcaster James Valentine who also joined the choirs on saxophone.

He had everyone singing along for the final song – My Island Home – which reverberated around Martin Place.

The Sydney Street Choir is a supportive musical community that aims to inspire and empower those who have experienced homelessness or disadvantage in the community.

Formed in 2001, they have thrilled audiences around Australia with their inspiring performances.

The PAYCE Foundation has been a major sponsor of the Sydney Street Choir since 2015 and helped establish the corporate challenge.

PAYCE Director Dominic Sullivan said: “It was an amazing day which showcased the power of song, enjoyed not only by the choirs but by a good crowd.”

“Congratulations to everyone involved in an event that brings people together – it was uplifting for everyone who participated.”