We were proud to attend Border Trust’s The Big Give event and
receive two grants, totalling $7,300, which will be used to support children and young women in need.

Border Trust handed out almost $200,000 through 26 grants for community projects, taking its overall tally over the past 13 years to $1.73m.

Junction Support Services received $5000 through the YWCA for a Healthy and Empowering Relationships Program (HER) to engage young women in wellbeing and outdoor activities.

We also received $2,300 through 2AY community grant to provide resources for children’s counselling and to improve a room for work. A small portion of the grant will be used for the Community Walk Against Family Violence that will be held late in the year.

All of us at Junction Support Services would like to thank Border Trust, YCWA Albury Wodonga, 1494 2AY and Ace Radio for supporting children and young women in need in the Wodonga community.

Tim said there was a significant need for positive relationship advice to be provided to some of the disadvantaged young women in the area. The HER Program will deliver workshops and activities to five young women aged between 15 and 18 years, focusing on relationships with peers, family, self and partners.

“One of our female counsellors and I will get the young women involved in outdoor activities like abseiling, mountain biking and archery, as well as workshops focused on self-development,” Tim said.

“In the middle of the five week program, the young women will take part in a ‘camp-in’ at a local venue where they’ll do things such as yoga and mindfulness, and be encouraged to consider their transition into womanhood and what it means to them be a woman.”

Over the past eight years YWCA has donated $117,614 to 23 projects through Border Trust.

Our Families and Children’s Specialist Services Manager Tahlia McCulloch said the second grant would be used to buy new resources to support children who are having counselling because they have experienced trauma such as family violence.

Each year we counsel more than 180 children who have experienced family violence and other trauma.

“Family violence affects children’s physical and mental wellbeing, development and schooling and it’s one of the leading causes of homelessness,” Tahlia said.

She said the grant would also be used to make an extra room that’s been made available at Junction Support Services more welcoming for children.

“Those new resources and a more welcoming space will help children to feel more at ease and give them the best chance of healing,” Tahlia said.