Creating a community that thrives
Health, Education and Financial Stability are the building blocks for a good life.
Education is essential to getting and keeping a job with a liveable wage. An income adequate to pay for today’s necessities and save for the future provides individuals and families a sense of financial stability. Access to quality health care keeps children on track in school and adults productive at work. Remove any one of these building blocks and the other two topple.
United Way Glenelg as custodians of the Lewis Court Fund, provide dedicated annual resourcing for opportunities to benefit senior Glenelg Shire residents.
Older people have a wealth of skills and experiences and can continue to be active participants in the community, when provided with support and encouragement.
With the generous support of our many partners and locals, United Way Glenelg continually looks for the most effective way to improve the lives of people living in the Glenelg Shire community. Our active Exectuive Officer and the Board enjoy finding innovative ways to support the community and provide opportunities for grant and funding distrubution.
Improving People's Health
A healthy community is one in which residents from all parts of the community can work together to prevent disease and have access to healthy living options. Working at the community level to promote healthy living, brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of people. It reduces health gaps caused by differences in income, education, race, ethnicity, location, and other factors that can affect health and wellbeing.
As the population of Glenelg ages, there is an increase in chronic and age-related illnesses, mental health issues, and suicide, this creates higher demand and pressure to access health and welfare services.
United Way Glenelg is committed to collaborating with community partners to fund programs that contribute towards improved health conditions, and which remove barriers and help people live safe, independent, and active lives life.
Our initiative
COVID-19 Impact Fund
Support the people living in the Glenelg Shire community struggling from the economic fallout of COVID-19 When you feel the most helpless, you have the power to do the most
Our 2022 Health Partners
Partnering with local organisations to create community impact
Helping everyone achieve their potential
Successful individuals and whole communities are underpinned by the quality of their educational system. Education plays a major role in the growth and progress of a community. Individuals with a solid education background are likely to not only improve their life outcomes but those of their descendants.
Only three out of every ten people in Glenelg Shire are likely to obtain their year twelve qualification. This statistic is significantly lower than the rest of Australia, where more than half the population is likely to stay in school. Residents of Glenelg Shire are 50% less likely to enter into tertiary education. This not only contributes to the declining population numbers but also creates unemployment, crime, public welfare dependency, and poor health.
United Way Glenelg is committed to collaborating with community partners to develop initiatives and fund programs that help all children and young people to reach their educational potential.
Our initiatives
Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Increasing access to books in the home gives children more opportunities to build their literacy skills. The Imagination Library provides age appropriate books each month to encourage fun engagement between
Magic of Storytime
The Magic of Storytime is providing a rich and meaningful experience for children while sparking their imagination at a time when they are most curious about the world.
Read Across Glenelg
Inspired by Children’s Book Week and becoming “United Through Books” United Way Glenelg wanted to engage parents and children in every home. A major challenge is overcoming low parental literacy
Our 2022 Education Partners
Partnering with local organisations to create community impact
Promoting Financial Stability and Independence
Financial well-being is the foundation on which so many other aspects of a family’s life are built. Strong financial well-being has positive implications on educational achievement, contributes to better health outcomes, and builds stronger communities for all. A change in income can have a multi-generational, positive impact on overall well-being by increasing access to quality healthcare, improving housing options, and broadening educational opportunities.
In Glenelg, small businesses help stimulate economic growth. Glenelg Shire has 1,927 small brick and mortar businesses providing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the community. These small brick and mortar businesses provide opportunities for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
United Way Glenelg is committed to collaborating with community partners to support and fund programs that promote financial stability and independence and promote financial wellbeing.
Our initiatives
Little FREE Pantry
The concept behind Little Free Pantry (LFP) is simple: Give what you can, take what you need.
Portland Engagement Program
This program specifically caters for students who have disengaged or are at risk of doing so from mainstream education.
Our 2022 Partners
Partnering with local organisations to create community impact
Increase Social and Economic Participation for Older People
Winter Care Packages
With a large proportion of residents over the age of 65 in the Glenelg Shire region, many of them face serious health problems, chronic diseases, isolation and loneliness.
Research shows that cold weather can exacerbate existing health problems in older people while feeling isolated and lonely is also known to have an impact on physical and mental health. For some financially stretched residents, this could mean limiting the use of heating, food, and electricity.
As a response, United Way Glenelg is supporting, our most vulnerable residents by delivering much needed Winter Care Packages.
Each package includes basic food, toiletries, reading material, grocery vouchers, non-slip socks and blankets, each valued at $100.
Anecdotal evidence by the way of the many letters, phone calls and cards we received and surveys completed by our agency partners the packages were greatly appreciated in supporting older people preventing them from disconnecting from the community and making them feel valued as community members.
Our initiative
Winter Appeal
As this Winter approaches, we need your help to deliver 200 Winter Care Packages to our older residents in need. Many face serious health problems, chronic diseases, isolation and loneliness.
Lewis Court Fund
The Lewis Court Fund was established when United Way Glenelg was selected as custodians of the division of funds from the sale of the Lewis Court Home for the Aged facility in 2013.
In accordance with the wishes of the Lewis Court Board the capital amount of 1 million dollars is preserved for future generations with United Way Glenelg investing the money safely and responsibly with the assistance of BWC Wealth.
Each year the original amount plus CPI is reinvested with the amount remaining available to community groups working on projects to benefit older shire residents.
The United Way Glenelg Lewis Court Fund is open to accept applications for funding in August every year.
