 |
Holding Redlich is a mid-sized law firm with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The Social Justice Fund was established as an MCF sub-fund in 2006.
Around one third of staff and salaried partners contribute regularly through payroll deductions which are matched by the firm. Staff contributions are distributed to community projects assisting disadvantaged youth in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney twice a year, while the partners’ contributions remain in the Fund with earnings also going to support the projects.
The Fund has made donations totalling $100,000 since 2006 with support currently going to the following organisations.
Brisbane Youth Services, which focuses on homeless or at-risk young people on the streets in the inner-city area, particularly those harming themselves and others through drug and alcohol use and dependency, prostitution, violence and other offending behaviours.
Through the Ardoch Youth Foundation we assist the Southern Teaching Unit, which provides 15 weeks of intensive support and education for students who are experiencing serious social, emotional, behavioural and/or educational difficulties, with the aim of reintegrating them into formal education.
Don Bosco House in Sydney, a project of Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets, provides crisis and short-term accommodation for homeless adolescents aged 15-18 years old. A large old house in Marrickville, the refuge provides support, accommodation and basic human needs such as food, clothing, safety, hygiene, access to health care and referrals to other services.
These projects were selected after a firm-wide survey identified disadvantaged young people as the cause employees wished to support. A committee with members in each state then selected the recipient organisations, with advice from MCF. The committee also reviews the organisations and has shifted the funding a couple of times, although the aim is to support a project consistently so as to provide certainty and encourage the development of a relationship with the firm.
Connections have been built with the projects in a number of ways. In Brisbane, Holding Redlich lawyers have provided pro bono legal services for Brisbane Youth Services and also staff a regular Homeless People’s Legal Clinic located at BYS. Donations have provided equipment and other resources for the Young Parents Group and have furnished units providing accommodation for homeless young families.
In Melbourne staff attend lunches with the young people at the Southern Teaching Unit and have been present to recognise the achievements of each group at their graduation. Donations have been used for a new fridge and dishwasher, art materials and, for one group, a trip to Sydney.
In Sydney, staff have visited Don Bosco House and have also hosted a presentation at the office to give everyone an opportunity to hear more about the work of Youth Off The Streets. Donations have helped to establish an incentive scheme to encourage young people to overcome their difficulties by engaging with caseworkers, attending educational or drug and alcohol programs, and working towards achieving stable accommodation.