Aussie first: Property sales to fund philanthropic arm
- 6 Jan 2019
Lendlease FutureSteps is aimed at addressing and helping prevent homelessness in Australia. Lendlease Foundation will contribute $500,000 in seed funding to establish FutureSteps. It is expected that FutureSteps’ funds will grow to more than $10 million in the next five years.
In practical terms, this will see Lendlease contribute 0.1 per cent of future sales revenue from all new residential dwelling and land lots in Australia to fund the program. These funds will support established charities and community organisations to deliver shelter and housing projects, including support services, skilling, training and jobs programs.
The fund will be independently managed by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation™, which provides an established foundation structure to support charitable causes.
FutureSteps’ first project will assist Platform Youth Services, a Western Sydney not-for-profit youth accommodation service. Established in 2013, Platform Youth Services supports young people with a history of homelessness and disadvantage to receive the education required to succeed in adulthood.
Under the partnership, FutureSteps will co-fund the refurbishment of a house in Penrith to accommodate six to eight students studying secondary or tertiary education. It will also provide much needed funding to support these students so they can achieve the qualifications and skills required to succeed in adulthood.
In addition, Lendlease employees will donate their skills and time to assist with the building’s upgrade as well as connecting students to employment opportunities through the organisation’s existing Western Sydney programs.
FutureSteps’s program with Platform Youth Services will commence ahead of a broader rollout with other charities and community programs scheduled for 2019. Lendlease plans to work with relevant charitable peak bodies to identify opportunities to allocate funding.
Quotes attributable to Lendlease Property CEO, Kylie Rampa:
“FutureSteps will be an enduring initiative, grounded in the belief that everyone in society should have access to safe and secure housing.
“Lendlease has always had a strong community focus and this initiative is building on our previous efforts. We believe this is a first for an Australian property company. It means we’ll be directing a portion of every new residential dwelling and land lot sale in Australia towards doing better via our own charitable vehicle.
“Homelessness is a chronic issue and there’s a growing awareness of its causes amongst corporate Australia. We recognise there’s no single solution, and Lendlease will play its part by providing much needed financial support and the skills of our people to assist.
“Platform Youth Services is the first of many projects FutureSteps will support, and we’ll be working with the charity sector’s peak bodies to target established not-for-profits that need a helping hand.
“Lendlease founder, Dick Dusseldorp, was one of Australia’s first business leaders to identify the need for companies to justify their worth to society by placing a greater emphasis on environmental and social outcomes rather than straight financial ones. FutureSteps is entirely consistent with this aspiration.”
Quotes attributable to Platform Youth Services’ CEO, Stephanie Oatley:
“Homelessness amongst young people is hidden from view, couch surfing between friends and extended family. Young people are not homeless by choice. Often, home is no longer a safe place for them to be.
“Young people are vulnerable due to their age and circumstances. Many have experienced traumatic experiences resulting in homelessness, with the trauma often compounded by their limited options and life skills.
“If we can support young people to complete education through programs like FutureSteps and help them move into employment their chances of experiencing homelessness as adults is drastically reduced.”
For more information about FutureSteps, please visit www.futuresteps.com.au
For more information please contact:
Mathew Charles
National Manager, External Affairs
0422 006 515
mathew.charles@lendlease.com
Daniella Stutt
State External Affairs Manager, NSW/ACT
0438 301 906
daniella.stutt@lendlease.com
In practical terms, this will see Lendlease contribute 0.1 per cent of future sales revenue from all new residential dwelling and land lots in Australia to fund the program. These funds will support established charities and community organisations to deliver shelter and housing projects, including support services, skilling, training and jobs programs.
The fund will be independently managed by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation™, which provides an established foundation structure to support charitable causes.
FutureSteps’ first project will assist Platform Youth Services, a Western Sydney not-for-profit youth accommodation service. Established in 2013, Platform Youth Services supports young people with a history of homelessness and disadvantage to receive the education required to succeed in adulthood.
Under the partnership, FutureSteps will co-fund the refurbishment of a house in Penrith to accommodate six to eight students studying secondary or tertiary education. It will also provide much needed funding to support these students so they can achieve the qualifications and skills required to succeed in adulthood.
In addition, Lendlease employees will donate their skills and time to assist with the building’s upgrade as well as connecting students to employment opportunities through the organisation’s existing Western Sydney programs.
FutureSteps’s program with Platform Youth Services will commence ahead of a broader rollout with other charities and community programs scheduled for 2019. Lendlease plans to work with relevant charitable peak bodies to identify opportunities to allocate funding.
Quotes attributable to Lendlease Property CEO, Kylie Rampa:
“FutureSteps will be an enduring initiative, grounded in the belief that everyone in society should have access to safe and secure housing.
“Lendlease has always had a strong community focus and this initiative is building on our previous efforts. We believe this is a first for an Australian property company. It means we’ll be directing a portion of every new residential dwelling and land lot sale in Australia towards doing better via our own charitable vehicle.
“Homelessness is a chronic issue and there’s a growing awareness of its causes amongst corporate Australia. We recognise there’s no single solution, and Lendlease will play its part by providing much needed financial support and the skills of our people to assist.
“Platform Youth Services is the first of many projects FutureSteps will support, and we’ll be working with the charity sector’s peak bodies to target established not-for-profits that need a helping hand.
“Lendlease founder, Dick Dusseldorp, was one of Australia’s first business leaders to identify the need for companies to justify their worth to society by placing a greater emphasis on environmental and social outcomes rather than straight financial ones. FutureSteps is entirely consistent with this aspiration.”
Quotes attributable to Platform Youth Services’ CEO, Stephanie Oatley:
“Homelessness amongst young people is hidden from view, couch surfing between friends and extended family. Young people are not homeless by choice. Often, home is no longer a safe place for them to be.
“Young people are vulnerable due to their age and circumstances. Many have experienced traumatic experiences resulting in homelessness, with the trauma often compounded by their limited options and life skills.
“If we can support young people to complete education through programs like FutureSteps and help them move into employment their chances of experiencing homelessness as adults is drastically reduced.”
For more information about FutureSteps, please visit www.futuresteps.com.au
For more information please contact:
Mathew Charles
National Manager, External Affairs
0422 006 515
mathew.charles@lendlease.com
Daniella Stutt
State External Affairs Manager, NSW/ACT
0438 301 906
daniella.stutt@lendlease.com