NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2017 19 GRANTS VICSRC Newsboys Foundation Youth Leadership Award In October 2017, VicSRC presented its Recognition Awards to honour outstanding work of individual students, schools and teachers. The Newsboys Foundation Youth Leadership Award is included as part of the Recognition Awards. The Award marks the outstanding leadership achievements and the future leadership potential of a Year 12 Victorian student. VicSRC Annual Congress VicSRC is the peak body representing school students in Victoria. Each year, VicSRC brings together secondary student delegates from all over Victoria at a congress meeting held at Ormond College, Melbourne University. In 2017, 180 students attended Congress and discussed key education issues that are important to their school communities. Leadership, communication and skills- building workshops were conducted with the students over the successful three-day meeting. vicsrc.org.au WESTERN CHANCES Western Chances Newsboys Foundation Scholarships Western Chances supports young people in Melbourne’s western suburbs who have talent and potential but lack the finances, networks and opportunities to pursue their education and career goals. The Foundation support assists motivated young people to realise their potential by providing scholarships, opportunity programs and ongoing support. The Western Chances scholarship program, supported by the Newsboys Foundation, helps young people complete their education, broaden their skills and build their confidence and networks. westernchances.org.au WESTERN EDGE YOUTH ARTS Theatre of Identity Western Edge is conductiing two discreet projects with support from the Newsboys Foundation. The first is a drama program at Victoria University Secondary College that builds on the achievements of the Western Edge literacy and theatre project New Voices Old Stories that was conducted in 2016. The second is the continuation of Phoenix Edge Youth Theatre, a community project for culturally diverse teenagers based at Phoenix Youth Centre in Footscray. westernedge.org.au WESTJUSTICE Expanded School Lawyer Project In 2015, Westjustice introduced The School Lawyer Project. The innovative two- year pilot was successful in addressing hidden problems within a public school community. The School Lawyer Project built the confidence of The Grange P-12 College community to effectively engage with the justice system. This has in turn improved the stability of school families and the attendance and performance of students. Based on the success of the pilot, the ‘Expanded School Lawyer Project’ aims to explore a similar model to be delivered across a cluster of schools simultaneously, including alternative education settings and additional needs schools. The project will also develop and trial a ‘transient youth clinic’ that will complement the existing School Lawyer model in order to re-engage and support students who have disengaged from and/ or left school. The project will continue to partner with The Grange P-12 College and Warringa Park School as well as establish new partnerships with Wyndham Community and Education Centre and Laverton P-12 College. westjustice.org.au Western Chances VicSRC Western Edge Youth Arts