Give a gift that matters this GivingTuesday

29 November 2021

On 30 November 2021, take a moment to reflect on the many NFPs that touch your life every year, and help make our communities a better place for everyone!

30 November 2021 is GivingTuesday. This is an annual opportunity for individuals, communities and businesses to come together and give back to the organisations making a difference in people’s lives by donating their time, money, goods or voices to celebrate and thank Australian not-for-profits (NFP).

As an NFP organisation, we could not continue our essential community services without the incredible people and organisations who give to our programs, whether that’s through cash donations, food for our Lanyon Food Hub, technology for our YWCA Canberra Clubhouse, sponsorships and partnerships, or spending time sharing our advocacy messages to raise awareness of the work we do. From everyone at YWCA Canberra, thank you!

We have been particularly grateful in 2021 for those who have continued or started donating even through this difficult time. Although we know many in our community are struggling, NFPs like YWCA Canberra work with the most vulnerable people in our community every day. We directly support those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, and help disadvantaged children and young people at risk.

Our work has tangible impacts on those who, in too many cases, had lost hope that anything could change, and whose situations have only worsened during the COVID-19 crisis.

As 2021 finally draws to an end and most of us look forward to a new start in 2022, there are some sobering realities in the Canberra region.

Nine per cent of the ACT population is living in poverty.[1] That is over 38,000 people, including around 9000 children. This has increased by over 25 per cent since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.[2]
Although the COVID-19 supplement temporarily helped many people afford basic necessities, its removal has plunged thousands back into poverty.
Over the last year, the average house price in Canberra increased by over 30 per cent,[3] leaving yet more people in housing stress or homeless.
Between June 2019 and June 2021, there was a 25 per cent increase in the number of women seeking specialist homelessness services in the ACT. Sadly, this was linked to a spike in Canberra women experiencing domestic or family violence.[4]
The average wait for public housing for people on the priority list is almost a year.[5]

We have been doing our part to help through our housing and homelessness services and our domestic violence support service. But demand remains incredibly high, and we cannot do this alone.

This year, for Giving Tuesday, please think of those doing it tough this holiday season and help us continue our essential work by donating to our annual end-of-year appeal.

We’ll be working hard to ensure that the families we support can enjoy the festive season by providing Christmas hampers and gifts to all families in our housing services, as well as people accessing the Lanyon Food Hub.

And any further funds raised during our end of year appeal will go to our YHomes project to build safe and secure housing for older women and women escaping domestic violence.

All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

And if you’re not in a place to give money, please share our appeal in your networks, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. You might be surprised at how much that small action can bring.

[1] Vital Signs Canberra 2021 – The Snow Foundation

[2] Factsheet: Poverty and COVID-19 in the ACT | ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (actcoss.org.au)

[3] Domain House Price Report – September 2021 | Domain

[4] Specialist Homelessness Services: monthly data

[5] Waiting Lists – Community Services (act.gov.au)

Tags: charity, donations, fundraising, GivingTuesday