Annual Report
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2014ANNUAL REPORT There are thousands of young girls in Australia who need someone to stand up for them. Our SISTER2sister program is about using the power of community to finally break the cycle of trauma, offering hope and support to girls in this country who have fallen through the cracks or been left behind. -Jessica Brown (Founder & CEO) Contents The SISTER2sister program showed me the light at the end of the day, and that no matter how hard things will get in your life there will always be someone there to help you and guide you through any obstacles you are facing. - Melissa (Little Sister) TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAIR MESSAGE 3 CHAIR MESSAGE It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Life Changing We also celebrated our 10 Year birthday for the Experience Foundation’s Annual Report, which sets out SISTER2sister program in September, with a reunion to 4 OUR YEAR what the Foundation has achieved in the past year, together reconnect with our former Big & Little Sisters who have with some of our future plans. taken the life changing journey with us so far. It was heart- WHO WE HELP ‘Little Sister’ Krystal suffered warming to see so many good news stories, as well as the 6 2014 has been a busy and rewarding year. The Foundation ongoing connection that many Little Sisters still have with from bullying due to her weight, 7 OUR PURPOSE and our fantastic team has received well deserved awards their Big Sisters. and recognition, acknowledging the valuable part we play in and this affected her education. THE SISTER2SISTER PROGRAM 8 changing the lives of at-risk teenage girls. This years group of Little Sisters have been through their She was also homeless during amazing development experience, and we are pleased at TIMELINE OF THE Our Program Co-ordinator, Marnee May, was a finalist 9 the transformations we have seen so far. her early years. Upon joining SISTER2SISTER PROGRAM for the Pride of Australia Award acknowledging her remarkable contribution to the girls we work with. Further, For the next year, we aim to expand our mentoring program the SISTER2sister program, 11 WHO THE SISTER2SISTER PROGRAM HELPS the Foundation received recognition in the Social Impact into another state. With our aspiration and hope to leverage she was paired with ‘Big Sister’ Awards. Finally, I was delighted to be acknowledged by the the success of the SISTER2sister program so we can assist 12 OUR STRUCTURE Centre for Volunteering as the Corporate Volunteer of the more at-risk teenagers in Melbourne, to break the cycle mentor Gina who showed her Year. All of this recognition truly emphasizes the wonderful of poverty, neglect and abuse, and to work towards better how to enjoy life, to try new 13 POST PROGRAM SUPPORT value the Foundation provides to young women who need lives for themselves and their families. our support. things and most importantly 15 THE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES During the year, we welcomed new Board members, FOUNDATION STORY The economic environment continues to be challenging, so Clynton, Beth and Amanda (See page 21). Our Board has how to set goals to achieve it is particularly encouraging to see that the benefits that continued to provide guidance, support and oversight and THE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES we provide to the wider society are still being recognised I feel confident we have the building blocks in place to 16 JOURNEY her dreams. Since graduating and supported by our sponsors and a range of other ensure our expansion is well managed. funding bodies. from the program, Krystal has 18 OUR TEAM Finally, I would like to express our gratitude and become the primary carer for We have again been generously supported by NIVEA as our appreciation to our team, our dedicated volunteers, and my 20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS primary sponsor for the SISTER2sister program, and have fellow Directors for their continuing hard work, energy and her mother, and is studying also been supported by companies and Foundations such enthusiasm. Without the tireless efforts of our Big Sisters, 22 PATRONS & AMBASSADORS aged care, so she can provide as the Qantas Foundation, Jetstar, Commonwealth Bank, Team Leaders, our psychologists and other volunteers we 24 HOW YOU CAN HELP Symantec and many more. We are continually grateful would not be able to provide such a valuable, service to more support for her mum. for those organisations who provide the much needed teenage girls who have such need of our support. SUPPORTERS funds to allow us to extend our reach and assist more Gina is still a huge influence 26 young women. 32 WHERE OUR in Krystal’s life, providing MONEY COMES FROM guidance and support. Kate Boyle 33 FINANCIALS Chair Life Changing Experiences Foundation Ltd PAGE 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 33 Celebrating 7 years of partnership with NIVEA! The NIVEA brand values of honesty, Our year family, love, well-being and trust, are in harmony with the social commitment to family. As such, NIVEA has locally been the proud sponsor and supporter of Life Changing Experiences Foundation (LCEF) and their SISTER2sister Mentoring Program since 2009. One of the aims for Beiersdorf, is to help improve the future prospects of young people and promote equal Qantas Foundation became a partner opportunities for all, regardless of background. This in 2014, with their philosophy “Creating vision, which is also shared with LCEF, was the inspiration SISTER2sister life-changing experiences for the next for NIVEA joining in a partnership and supporting the generation of Australians”, echoing SISTER2sister mentoring program. 10th Reunion! our own Foundation position. This We had a great opportunity to celebrate an amazing culminated with our participation and milestone birthday and in doing so, reconnect with our charity partner for the OzHarvest CEO Cook Off, where our fantastic sisterhood of former Big & Little Sisters. The lucky Little Sisters helped CEO’s and Australia’s celebrity Step Up For Sisterhood most inspiring and rewarding part of the celebration, was chefs to cook incredible meals. learning the post-SISTER2sister program successes and Continuing our national achievements of our former Little Sisters. fundraising campaign in 2014, supporters were Congratulations to Marnee May, our Program Co- encouraged to wear their ordinator, for being a finalist for the Pride Of Australia statement shoes and make NSW Inspiration Medal. For recognition as a role model a stand to help stamp out whose compassion and wisdom while coaching and abuse and neglect. The mentoring our youth has been truly inspiring. campaign ran from 17-21 November to raise much needed funds for the SISTER2sister program. Congratulations to our Chair, Kate Boyle for winning We are extremely proud to continue NSW Corporate Individual Volunteer of the Year our partnership with Bauer Magazines We are very proud to have been selected as a finalist in Award for The Centre for Volunteering. This award from 2013, who have helped us to the Criterion Impact Measurment Awards. recognises volunteers who are sponsored by their improve our reach to many more For achievements in Impact Measurement by a small employers and are released from employment to carry supporters with their amazing portfolio Not-for-Profit. out volunteer activities. of magazines (Woman’s Day, Cleo, Cosmopolitan, OK!). We are thrilled to commence a long-term goal, to We are excited to announce our partnership with Continuing our expand our SISTER2sister program into another state. Jetstar. The support from Jetstar is enabling the expansion partnership with We can confirm that the program will be operating in of our SISTER2sister program into Melbourne, providing the Wests Tigers from 2012, Melbourne for the Wyndham City in 2016. support for on-the-ground research and planning. Thanks to co-sponsor Kris Gale from Michael Associates, with our in-stadium and on-field branding at their home games. PAGE 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 55 Our Purpose To empower vulnerable teenage girls to make positive life choices for a better future OUR VISION We grow Australia’s most marginalised girls into strong, Break the cycle of neglect, abuse, poverty and suffering independent women capable of taking their place in • of Australian ‘at risk’ youth by helping them to increase the world. their belief in themselves and encouraging them to take themselves out of their present environments so they OUR MISSION can make a difference to their lives; Implement our programs throughout Australia. Give disadvantaged young individuals the opportunity to be temporarily taken out of their environment to • Achieve total self-sustainability to effectively support all • participate in a once in a lifetime mentoring program; our programs through innovative fundraising strategies • which will teach them how to achieve personal and community involvement opportunities. contentment and fulfillment; Provide beneficiaries with ongoing opportunities to Provide disadvantaged youth with the chance to identify Who we help develop their skills and gain work experience. • • and explore their talents and learn how to utilise these Deliver programs that are credible and through them talents to enhance their lives and be active contributing The SISTER2sister program targets teenage girls (12-18) who are ‘at risk’ due to a direct result of • make a difference to Australian youth and their members of their community; trauma, parents in jail, with an addiction or mental illness, bereavement, poverty, abuse, neglect, respective communities. Teach our disadvantaged youth strategies to deal with homelessness, sickness/disability,