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Foyer Central Social Impact Bond
Investor update, July 2021
Dear investor,
As you are aware, the Foyer Central Social Impact Bond launched earlier this year. Uniting and SGCH, in partnership with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, have since established and commenced delivery of the Foyer Central Program, providing a timely opportunity to update you on progress to date.
The participants
There are currently 22 motivated young people who call Foyer Central home, in line with anticipated enrolment figures. Since March, there have been 85 referrals to the program through community organisations, the Department and directly from young people themselves.
The Foyer Central team is focused on gradually building the number of residents and expect to reach their capacity of 53 young people in December this year.
The Foyer Central assessment panel meets twice a month to review applications, and includes representatives from Uniting, SGCH and the Department.
A young person at Foyer Central showing off
their new laptop
The panel is functioning well, with members contributing diverse opinions and regularly providing positive feedback to those young people who are considered not quite ready for Foyer Central. Unsuccessful applicants may be able to apply again in the future with further support.
Cooking in the shared kitchen
The mixture of young people in a Foyer program is recognised as critical to its success.
Foyer Central considers a range of factors to determine an appropriate mixture of young people, including gender, age and individual participant risk profiles based on current or past behaviours.
The gender balance to date is broadly as planned, with 12 male and 10 female residents. 43% of participants identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, which is consistent with the representation of First Nations children and young people in care in NSW.
Support for First Nations participants is a focus area for the Foyer Central team, who are committed to creating a culturally safe place and accessible delivery model. A key relationship is with the local Aboriginal Medical Service, which provides wrap around services including access to a GP, mental health, dental, and drug and alcohol services.
AB’s start to life at Foyer Central
AB moved into Foyer Central in April after sleeping rough on the streets and on trains for almost 3 years. Initially AB’s hygiene and ability to engage in routine was challenging, which his youth development coach has now helped him address.
AB has settled into the program well and is a standout participant in the life skills course. AB has engaged enthusiastically and has completed all required assessments with great results.
AB has said that he enjoys participating in coaching sessions as he learns more about himself each time. AB’s enthusiasm and engagement with the program has led to an opportunity to perform a leadership role for students at Foyer Central. AB is also enjoying the communal aspect of Foyer Central, having developed two strong friendships with other students.
AB’s goals include learning how to budget, building social connections, learning to cook and undertaking further training in labouring or traffic control. AB’s end goal is to be living independently in a house where he is able to pay his rent each week without any worries.
The participants
As more young people fill the building, the communal spaces are starting to be used regularly.
Participants often hang out in the downstairs area and share meals together. Youth development coaches facilitate many fun activities at Foyer Central, giving young people and coaches an opportunity to build rapport and trust with each other.
Activities include boxing, walking groups, craft, art, cooking, movie watching, board games and playing Nintendo Switch.
A communal dinner at Foyer Central
These sessions are free flowing and young people can join in at any time. Activities have since been adjusted to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.
Shared living space
The Foyer Central team is now fully resourced, comprising 7 youth development coaches, a pathways specialist, an accommodation coordinator, an education and employment coordinator and the program manager.
The youth development coaches have already expressed that they are thoroughly enjoying the work of Foyer Central. An SGCH tenancy manager is also co-located at Foyer Central three days a week, and is responsible for managing tenancy agreements with the students.
“The first few months of Foyer Central operating has provided a terrific opportunity for all staff to share in the amazing growth – both personally and in terms of program implementation and refinement. For myself it is a privilege to see students coming into Foyer at challenging times in their journey and to be able to observe how quickly they adapt and immerse themselves in both the program and communal-style living.
Many of the students have developed solid friendships in a short period of time. Hearing music, banter and the sounds of happiness whilst they engage in activities on site provides a great environment in which to work.
The biggest challenge that we have faced is the current Covid-19 lockdown. This has proven difficult for participants, and we have seen a withdrawal from using the communal areas. Staff have adapted activities to include walks outside, workouts and cooking in small groups to encourage students to continue to engage.”
Paula Thum, Foyer Central Program Manager
The opportunities
Participants are required to undertake an independent living skills course through TAFE NSW.
The first group of 11 students commenced the course in April and are expected to complete the course in early August. A second group of 5 students, who are undertaking the course remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions, commenced in July. This group will be supported by the education and employment coordinator on site at Foyer Central.
Structured workshops are conducted with a goal of building students’ capacity across five domains: education, employment, health and wellbeing, social connections and housing and living.
View from one of the furnished rooms at
Foyer Central
The Foyer Central team has been partnering with other organisations to create employment and education opportunities, including:
- Talent RISE – offering employment opportunities and training
- Aboriginal Employment Service – offering employment opportunities for Aboriginal participants, and onsite workshops once Covid-19 restrictions are eased
- AMP Foundation – facilitating sessions on budgeting and money
- Sisters of Mercy – offering scholarships to participants seeking to undertake tertiary education
- Oz Harvest – offering on-site sessions on healthy eating and food preparation
- Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation – running a project to paint a mural in the car park at Foyer Central
We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the years to come. Please note that the first Foyer Central Social Impact Bond Annual Report will be provided to investors around December 2022.
Thank you for supporting Foyer Central, a program which we believe will help young people make a successful transition to independence, and ultimately help break the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage for young people with lived experience in care in NSW.
Kind regards,
Elyse Sainty
Director, Impact Investing
Social Ventures Australia
Patrick Bollen
Analyst, Impact Investing
Social Ventures Australia
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