Our Strategic Partners
Our work is built on the foundations of strong governance, and the ongoing protection and leveraging of our capital and assets. We support multi-year philanthropic partnerships and impact investments for initiatives that are strongly supported by evidence and whose impact can be measured, to deliver clear outcomes for at-risk young people. Our partnering approach embraces program delivery, capability building, influencing systemic change and scaling impact.
We Currently Work With
YFS
For almost 40 years, YFS (formerly Youth and Family Services) has supported at-risk families and young people to thrive. In 2021, the community organisation in Logan City was awarded $900,000 over two years to help break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage and build the capacity of vulnerable young parents. The tailored program focusses on stable housing, safe relationships, employment and education to support these young families to lead more independent lives and participate in their community. In 2023, this partnership was extended for another three years for $350,000 p.a.
Micah Projects
Micah Projects is a not-for-profit organisation in Brisbane that supports people facing adversity to access housing, healthcare and employment, based on their founding belief that every child and adult has the right to a home, income, healthcare, education, safety, dignity, and connection with their community.
In 2022 they were awarded $1.5 million over three years to fund the Young Mothers for Young Women and Being Your Best programs in Brisbane and Caboolture to assist young parents to build support networks and reengage in employment and training.
Previously in 2020, they received $800,000, consisting of a $400,000 grant and a $400,000 interest-free loan, to purchase and secure the Wellspring Hawthorne Hub. The Wellspring Hub provides a range of support services to vulnerable young families to break down barriers and create their own futures, supporting children and their mothers as they deal with the inter-related issues of domestic violence, traumas, poverty and homelessness.
Youth Insearch
Youth Insearch is a leading youth intervention charity focused on helping at-risk young people to overcome childhood trauma, improve their mental health, reduce youth crime and delinquency and prevent youth suicide, through case management support and peer mentoring. In 2020 the organisation was awarded $730,577 over three years to help to deliver a specialised peer-to-peer program including weekend workshops, weekly local support groups, coupled with tailored case management support provided by youth support workers embedded across seven communities in the Western Downs, Wide Bay and greater Brisbane regions.
Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak
QATSICPP advocates the importance of supporting First Nations children, young people and their families to live safely within their own communities. They are the peak body representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled child and family support services sector in Queensland. They are working with the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services to implement major system reform to address the over representation of First Nations children and young people in the child protection system.
This will enable self-determination and the ability to exercise authority in child protection, providing positive outcomes for future generations of First Nations families, changing trajectories and helping to Close the Gap. In 2023 the organisation was awarded $400,000 p.a. for three years.
Stars Foundation
Stars Foundation offers tailored support and mentoring to First Nations girls and young women at a critical point in their lives – helping them to re-engage in education, finish their schooling and get a foot in the door to a career of their choice through work or tertiary study. Hand Heart Pocket has partnered with Stars Foundation to deliver this program in Townsville during 2022-23. In 2023, this partnership was extended for another two years for $400,00 p.a.
Brisbane Youth Service
Brisbane Youth Service supports at-risk young people to thrive. In 2020 the charity was awarded $915,000 over three years to fund their Safe and Connected Futures program which provides early intervention and case management support to homeless youths to re-establish family support networks, find safe housing and re-engage with education or employment.
Save the Children
Save the Children Fund Australia was awarded $500,000 over three years to fund their Life Skills for Success program in Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District and Morobe Province. The program supports at-risk young people to develop the foundational skills to set them up for success in education and employment, with a focus on engagement and support of the most marginalised, particularly adolescent girls and young people with disability.
GIVIT
GIVIT is a non-profit organisation that connects donors with community organisations – through their online-donation platform – to make sure people and communities get exactly what they need, when they need it, whether it be for immediate disaster relief or longer-term recovery from a disaster event or other circumstances creating hardship.
The Freemasons of Queensland have a long history of working together to support Queenslanders affected by natural disasters. Hand Heart Pocket’s disaster relief partnership with GIVIT began in late 2021. If and when a natural disaster strikes in Queensland, Hand Heart Pocket will work with GIVIT to understand the needs of the affected community and determine how best to respond on behalf of the Freemasons of Queensland. Our Members and their families can also contribute if they can. During the 2021-22 disaster season $211,000 was donated to GIVIT.
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) is a non-profit that supports regional, rural and remote communities to be vibrant and resilient. Hand Heart Pocket’s partnership with FRRR began in 2022 with $112,500 donated towards the Strengthening Rural Communities grants program, in support of communities in Queensland that are preparing for or recovering from natural disasters. Local community groups and NFP organisations can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to lead recovery efforts in their area.
YellowBridge QLD
YellowBridge QLD is a not-for-profit organisation based in Toowoomba. Each year more than 4,000 people on the Darling Downs are supported to access housing, disability support, youth and home services so they can lead independent and rewarding lives.
In 2020, YellowBridge QLD received $220,000 over two years to fund transitional accommodation and case management for their Youth Matters program to support their aim of ending youth homelessness in Toowoomba by 2025.
Previously, 2018, YellowBridge QLD received $450,000 for the construction of a purpose-built three-bedroom unit in Toowoomba, to accommodate two people with disabilities and a carer. It was one of four fully customised units built by Enabled Living, which included assistive technology to empower residents to lead more independent lives.
Bravehearts
Bravehearts Foundation is a renowned child protection charity focused on the prevention of child sexual assault. In 2020 the charity was awarded $790,000 over two years to support their program which provides early intervention and support for young people who have, or are at risk of engaging in harmful sexual behaviour in Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast with outreach capability via eHealth across Queensland. In 2022 an additional $400,000 was awarded to continue this program for another year.
Intercept Youth and Family Services
Intercept Youth and Family Service in Caboolture was awarded $320,000 over two years in 2020, to fund their Pathfinder program which runs trauma-informed camps with case management support to assist at-risk young people to future plan and identify a path for successful transitions across their teenage years and young adulthood.
