Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2016 9 HANDS ON LEARNING AND SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS Newsboys partners with Hands On Learning and Social Venture Partners to help young people stay at school The Newsboys Foundation has partnered with two other non-profit organisations to find new ways to keep young people engaged with their education. For more than a century, Newsboys has understood that education can be the catalyst that helps people to lead confident, fulfilled lives. Newsboys has consistently looked for new ways to strengthen young people’s engagement with education. This has been a central focus since the late 19th and early 20th century, when Newsboys set up vocational classes for the children who sold newspapers on the streets of Melbourne. Newsboys Foundation chief executive Sandy Shaw says that more than one organisation and more than one approach is often needed to help young people continue with their education. In 2016, Newsboys has partnered with Social Ventures Partners and Hands On Learning (HOL) to help young people stay at school. HOL works with young people who do not fit the traditional academic model of education. These young people are in danger of becoming disengaged from education, and ultimately are at risk of leaving school early with their self- confidence and self-esteem eroded. Newsboys is providing funds through a multi-year grant, Social Ventures Partners is providing expertise and ideas, and Hands On Learning is looking at ways to expand its education program, which has grown from 20 schools in 2012 to 70 schools in 2016. With the guidance of skilled adults, HOL’s program engages groups of 10 young people in practical building projects that impart skills and build confidence. “We are trying to provide a way for these kids to experience success at school and develop their social skills which are holding them back,” says HOL’s Cameron Wiseman. “We are attacking the issue of early school leaving.” Cameron acknowledges the various challenges involved in managing a growing organisation. “Our cost base is growing with a growing number of schools to support and we want to ensure there is quality implementation (of the program). We need to develop our relationship with government. We need strategies to develop new streams of income to enable us to be more self-sustaining.” “Our aim by the end of 2018 is to have the program in 100 schools,” says Cameron. “Hopefully that improves our dialogue with government at the same time.” HOL hopes to develop a social enterprise income stream to supplement its other sources of funding. It is aiming for a mix of one half philanthropic income with the other half from social enterprises and government. Newsboys Foundation aims to facilitate this greater self- reliance by committing to a three-year, $105,000 grant enabling HOL to engage with Social Venture Partners to investigate possible social enterprise initiatives. “We’re hearing from many organisations that achieving financial sustainability can be very difficult,” says Newsboys’ chief executive Sandy Shaw. “Certainty of funding is very important. This is a three-year relationship in which each organisation is bringing something different to the table.” Social Venture Partners aims to build organisations from the inside to enhance their capabilities. It offers expertise in business, financial management, information technology and marketing. SVP’s Wayne Saunders says the group has identified several ideas that fit HOL’s program. Among them are possible sponsorships, such as from hardware chains or local government, that could lead to paid work experience for participants. With the certainty of continuing support from Newsboys, HOL and SVP will begin testing proposals for sustainability in early 2017.