Newsboys Foundation
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The Newsboys Foundation provides grants to community organisations working with disadvantaged young people and children in Victoria.
The Newsboys Foundation has an interesting and impressive history, first as a Melbourne based Club for newsboys from 1893 until 1973, and then as a Foundation supporting community organisations working with disadvantaged young people and children in Victoria.
Throughout its long life, the organisation has remained true to its core objective of supporting young people and children in our community who need assistance to realise their full potential. The Melbourne Newsboys Club provided a meeting place in the city where newsboys could gain access to a range of services, including education, social, recreation, medical and dental. The Club helped shape the lives of its members in a positive way, and many former newsboys still talk fondly of their days at the Club and the significant impact it had on their lives.
In 1973, the Committee had the foresight to sell the Melbourne Newsboys Club building in Little Collins Street, Melbourne, along with the country holiday property, Milgrove. It was believed that by establishing a Foundation and providing grants to the increasing numbers of youth organisations, more young people and children throughout Victoria could be supported to reach their full potential. The proceeds from the sales, along with donations from community members, have been invested well. With $806,456 in 1974, grant allocations in that year totalled $16,177. Since then the Foundation’s investment portfolio has grown to $22,774,919 in 2007, providing sufficient income for grant allocations totalling $999,645 to be made in the 2006–07 financial year.
The Foundation provides grants to a broad range of organisations working with young people and children in Victoria. The grants focus on young people and children who have experienced some form of disadvantage, such as financial, social, emotional, physical and intellectual. The programs address a range of needs, including education, recreation, social inclusion, housing and financial. The programs provide a connecting point for young people and children who would otherwise be marginalised in some way, and give them opportunities to build their life skills and confidence. Educational programs, camps, recreation activities and arts projects are just a few of the types of programs that we support.
Like our colleagues before us, we continue to work to make our community a more inclusive and positive environment for all. We look for programs that are innovative, address community needs, and have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people and children and that provide opportunities for them to realize their full potential. Where programs have the potential to be adapted and replicated in other communities, we work with others to make this happen. Smaller, grassroots community organisations that encourage the active involvement of young people are well represented in our list of grant recipients.
History
The Newsboys Foundation has its origins in the Try Boys Society, established by William Mark Forster in the 1890s. Forster came across several tired and barefoot boys one evening and took them to his home, assisted them withn food and clothing and talked to them about their prospects for earning a living. Forster asked the boys to return the following week and to bring others; from these beginnings the Try Boys Society developed.
By 1895 Forster had developed what would become known as the Newsboys Try Society, operating under the guidance of a committee with Forster as founder and manager. The Newsboys Try Society Club provided the boys with education, clothing, a meeting place and cheap meals. Over the decades it expanded to include other services such as family counselling, technical education, free medical and dental services and advice on legal rights. The Society was also instrumental in effecting changes in legislation to ensure care and protection of working children in Victoria.
Newsboys Foundation
In 1973 the Committee made a decision which led to the formation of the Newsboys Foundation (at that stage known as Melbourne Newsboys Club Foundation) and later the Trust. The aims of the Foundation and Trust are to support, help ane benefit young people. Since 1973 over $8.2 million has been allocated in Victoria.
Sources
Newsboys Foundation website, accessed 18/01/2008.