A new School Aid Program developed by Aus Living Support will support school children in need across the Sunshine Coast, thanks to a $33,000 grant by the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund.
The grant for the new program will enable Aus Living Support to help primary and high school students from across the Sunshine Coast, whose families are suffering financial hardship.
Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said Aus Living Support Ltd is a Sunshine Coast charity and the Foundation has been working with them as the new program was developed.
“For the past 20 years, the Foundation has been working with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) to provide vouchers for students in the Buderim community, but that program had now closed, giving us the opportunity to look for a new way to provide similar support,” Mr McKinnon said
“We are delighted that Aus Living Support has developed this program that will provide funds not only to families in need around Buderim, but across the Coast.”
Aus Living Support Ltd CEO Ian Harrison said the $33,000 grant would enable them to assist families who were accessing their other programs, particularly single-parents or families who were unable to afford some school expenses.
“The grant will enable us to provide school uniforms, shoes and backpacks that students would otherwise be unable to get,” Mr Harrison said.
“This is important because this allows students who are facing hardship to fit in more within their school communities, so they can be happier in their peer groups and in some cases avoid disciplinary action through no fault of their own.”
“We are so grateful for the support of the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund. This is the third grant we have received, with the others supporting our Rental Supplement Scheme and it makes a real difference to us and allows us to support more families in need.”
The Buderim Foundation has been the Trustee for the Thompson Charitable Fund since April 2021. Over the past three years, a rolling grants program to multiple grant recipients has provided over $650,000 to support people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship on the Sunshine Coast.
The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives in the Buderim area by harnessing the power of giving.
The Foundation works by professionally investing all donations and bequests. The earnings from these investments are redistributed to the community via an annual grants program open to not-for-profit community organisations that provide a service and support to residents in the Buderim area.
In addition, the Foundation manages the Thompson Charitable Fund which provides grants to organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship across the whole Sunshine Coast.
To find out more about the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund visit buderimfoundation.org.au/grants/the-buderim-foundation-thompson-fund/. For more information, about Aus Living Support Ltd, visit auslivingsupport.org.au/ and for more information about the Buderim Foundation visit buderimfoundation.org.au.
