...a focus on early childhood
Small Matters Newsletter
May 2009
Last year The Peter
Williams Trust was fortunate enough to be able to support
12 programs. Once each program is in progress we ask for an update to hear how
they are going. It is rewarding to hear from the organisations
and see photos of the programs the Trust supports.
New Grants for 2009
In
2009 the Trust will be supporting programs at three organisations:
Ø
bestchance
Child Family Centre
Ø
Biala
Box Hill
Ø
Try
Youth and Community Services
bestchance Child Family Centre
bestchance
has a history of over 110 years in caring for children and families, and is now
a major independent provider of integrated family support services in the
eastern region of Melbourne. Their programs focus on social, emotional and behavioural development, education and welfare through
early intervention to individuals and family groups. Currently over 200
families access programs run by bestchance’s Children’s Centre in Glen Waverley, however many
struggle financially with early
childhood education and care fees. The Peter Williams Trust has
provided a grant to assist in fee relief to ensure that all families have the
ability to access the programs run by bestchance. This will allow all children to receive the
benefits that early childhood education and care can provide. These benefits
include development of supportive relationships with other adults and children
in a caring environment, social and cognitive developmental programs, reduced
stress on parents, and an increased resilience and assistance with successful
transition to Primary School.
Biala Box Hill
For 31 years Biala Box Hill
has been providing quality early childhood intervention services to children with
developmental delays or disabilities. Biala has developed a sensory
room devoted to sensory activities and stimulation which assists children to
effectively integrate sensory information in a fun environment, facilitating
the development of their motor, communication, social and play skills. The
Peter Williams Trust has provided a grant to allow Biala to purchase a variety
of resources that can be lent to families to extend and consolidate the
benefits gained through the use of the sensory room.
Try Youth and Community Services
Try Youth and Community
Services (TRY) is a not for profit organisation
committed to building the capacity of community based services and community
members. TRY’s Children’s Services include several
kindergartens that are based in socially and economically disadvantaged areas,
where many families are unable to contribute kindergarten fees. The Peter Williams Trust has provided a grant to TRY to assist
those families not accessing quality early childhood education programs due to
inability to pay the fees.