BFFS Strategic Plan 2021-2023 - Bendigo Family and ......Bendigo and Shepparton are unique. One...
Transcript of BFFS Strategic Plan 2021-2023 - Bendigo Family and ......Bendigo and Shepparton are unique. One...
Strategic Plan2021-2023
For individuals, families andcommunities to live healthy lives,
be financially empowered, socially connected and have
access to universal basic services.
Vision
Healthy living
Financialempowerment Social
connection
At BFFS we think outside thebox and are not afraid to becreative in our approach.Through providing innovativeprograms and individuallytailored approaches, we supportpeople experiencing economicdisadvantage to becomefinancially literate, resilient andindependent. We treat everyonewith unconditional positiveregard and support them toaddress any other presentingissues before we start theirjourney around finances anddebt. We believe that throughfinancial and educationalcounselling, our clients aresupported to develop skills which empower them to achievetheir goals.
To break the cycle of povertyand disadvantage in ourcommunities by deliveringeducation, empowermentand support programs.Providing individual andsystems advocacy on behalfof our clients to challenge thestructural inequalities thatexist within society.
Purpose
Philosophy
"... to challenge thestructural inequalitiesthat exist in society."
We treateveryone withunconditional
positiveregard.
Family means different things to different people. "Family"can be much broader than a biological or nuclear family unit.A family can be the communities in which we live, participatein, or identify with. This includes; online, social goups,sporting, church, school and work communities.
Some people have their families of choice and othersexperience a sense of family by being understood andconnected to others. We deliberately included the word"family" in our name so that we would be seen as providingmore than financial assistance and support, but also socialwelfare support services.
While Shepparton Family and Financial services and BendigoFamily and Financial Services are one organisation – we feltthat it was important for each agency to contain itsgeographical name in order to demonstrate our commitmentto both regional communities and taking into account thatBendigo and Shepparton are unique.
One night in 2006, over a dining room table, Jenny andtwo other like-minded community service workers put in afew dollars each to register the agency.
Jenny envisioned creating an organisation to offer holisticprograms and services to address financial hardship anddistress as well as the consequent social isolationexperienced by the most vulnerable communities in theBendigo region.
... continued on next page
History
Jennyenvisionedcreating an
organisation tooffer holistic
programs andservices to
addressfinancial
hardship anddistress ...
BFFS started as a grassroots volunteer-led community organisation. It wasestablished by Jenny Elvey who is thecurrent General Manager.
What's in a name?
Over the next 18 months, Jenny and others fundraised byorganising sausage sizzles. This allowed BFFS to rent itsfirst office space located in St Andrews Avenue Bendigo,where during the early years, the agency deliveredservices solely based on generous professional volunteerlabour. BFFS has grown from this determined andpassionate beginning into the agency it is today.
BFFS overcame many inevitable hurdles in the early days,but through persistence and a focus on buildingcollaborative relationships, BFFS worked with communitypeak body organisations to clearly identify the need formicrofinance, financial counselling and emergency reliefsupport programs for the region. BFFS identified the needfor clients to have this holistic financial support thatconsidered all aspects of a person needs across the socialdeterminants of health.
BFFS was successful in their advocacy and began offeringfinancial counselling in 2007 and the following year,introduced the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) programfor the Bendigo region. Over the years, NILS has growninto a national program servicing people in need acrossthe country. Our success was recognised by GoodShepherd Microfinance noting that we provided thegreatest number of loans in Victoria during 2014, 2015and 2016. From 2006 we have grown our loan capitalfrom $20,000 to $1.25 million and continue to grow ourstaffing and program through identified community need.
... continued on next page
History continued ...
Top: In the early days at the StAndrews Avenue office.Middle: BFFS' Myers Streetoffice until the move to thebigger Rowan Str premises inDecember 2020.Bottom: The BFFS team in theearly days at the Myers Streetoffice.
"As a retiree I find it really fulfilling to be part of acommunity organisation that allows me to support thosewho often, through no fault of their own, find themselvesdependent on benefits. The world has not been kind tomany of the people I speak to, whether it be mentalhealth, disability or other disadvantage. NILs loans createan opportunity for them to take back some control overtheir finances and feel a sense of self-sufficiency."
- Les Evans, Volunteer NILs Interviewer
Today we operate as a one-stop community hub with afocus on financial wellness that provides integrated support and referrals based on the client’s needs. We are proud to take a person-centred approach to all our work.Our point of difference is we work with our clients to address their immediate and future needs. We holistically work with clients by providing tailored approaches tosupport the client on their journey to achieve positiveoutcomes. We don’t turn anyone away or leave anyonebehind, and work with individuals and families until theyachieve their goals.
Our Shepparton office In early 2019 Bendigo Family and Financial Services was approached by Community Information and SupportVictoria (CISVic) to explore opportunities to deliver much-needed services in the Greater Shepparton region. A fewmonths later Shepparton Family and Financial Services(SFFS) was born. This service operates under the samecore principles that BFFS was founded on. SFFS provideemergency food relief, No interest loans (NILs) and Financial Counselling to the Greater Shepparton area andare planning to grow its suite of services in the future.
“I would like to sincerely thank BFFS, for the wonderful service they are giving to thecommunity. I have asked for help twice this year, as my partner was diagnosed withlifelong condition causing disability making it impossible for him to work. The first pointof contact both times was Craig who is so respectful, caring, patient and he just listened- nothing was a problem for him. Craig arranged for me to have a chat with a financialcounsellor. Tom was extremely professional, courteous, so patient and reassuring. Heprovided a range of help for me and offered suggestions, which have been a great reliefto me and has enabled me to get on top of our finances. We live in a small regionalfarming town with limited services or support for people in our situation. We have had tomake several trips to St Vincent’s Hospital this year which is a 6 hour journey one way.Tom treated me with utmost respect, and explained paper work clearly. I shall be highlyrecommending your services to the people in our town who are in need."
– Older female client living in rural town
Today weoperate as a
one-stopcommunityhub with afocus onfinancial
wellness ...
History continued ...
Client feedback
We offer the following range of programs which can beindividually tailored to the needs of our clients ...
Programs
The foundations that underpin our work ...
EMERGENCYRELIEF
FINANCIALCOUNSELLING
SPECIALISEDPROGRAMS
SAFE,AFFORDABLE
LOANS
SOCIALPROGRAMS
Food parcels,material aid, and
assistance tonegotiate
overdue bills.
Help addressingdebt and otherfinancial issues.
Empowermentprograms forspecific needs
including: FinancialCapacity, Debt
Consolidation, andFamily Violence
Support.
Safe affordablemicrofinance
including: no interest loans,
low interestloans andessentialsinsurance.
Social supportand activity-
based programs.
A holistic approach
Partnership& collaboration
Quality Risk management
Innovationand learning
Financialsustainability
Conduct organisational risk management andgovernance analysis to identify current gaps andimplement an organisational-wide framework. Review administrative, financial, human resourcesand technology systems and create a roadmap toimplement best practice approaches.Review the organisational structure and makerecommended changes based on growth.Build financial sustainability through fosteringrelationships with government, philanthropic andother diverse funding sources. Explore options around developing a socialenterprise to support our clients and help achieveour mission and purpose.Invest in our staff and grow our volunteer base.
Strategic priorities
1 Build organisational capacity
Develop a strategic partnership plan to workwith the organisation’s who share our ideals.
Develop partnerships
Our strategic focus for2021-2023 is as follows:
2
Build financialsustainability
throughfostering
relationshipswith
government,philanthropic
and otherdiversefundingsources.
"If someone is paying up to 60% of theirCentrelink income on a rental property then their inability to afford rising utility bills or foodfor a large family is not because of a personalfailure, but due to broader macroeconomics and structural barriers around access toaffordable public housing, employment, support services and low unemploymentbenefits."
- Rhette Drury, BFFS Financial Counsellor
Develop an organisational evaluation framework tooland set key performance indicators to measure theimpact of our work and programs.
Develop a marketing plan for the organisation –ensure this is staged to align with organisationalgrowth, ability and capacity.Increase community engagement activities toshowcase our work.Present our programs and outcomes at relevantconferences.Be recognised as an industry advocate
Engage our clients and partners in a co-designprocess to explore building innovative programs thataddress their needs.
"When a client walks through the door, it'stheir journey, not our journey. If we can't workwith them to make it about their journey ourclients won't feel comfortable working with us.The first thing we do is listen to their story ...only then can we begin the work."
- Jenny Elvey, BFFS General Manager
Develop more innovativeprojects and programs
Measure impact
Increase community and brand awareness
Strategic priorities (cont.)
3
4
5
Increasecommunity
engagementactivities toshowcase our work.
BFFSGood Shepherd Australia New Zealand
Department of Social Services, AustralianGovernment
Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions,Victoria
Department of Health and Human Services,Victoria
Sidney Myer FoundationMerlyn Myer Fund
Helen Macpherson Smith TrustCity of Greater Bendigo
Fosterville Gold Mine
BFFSLa Trobe University Bendigo
Community Information & Support Victoria Mind Australia
Bendigo Senior Secondary CollegeLoddon Campaspe Community Legal
CentreSt Vincent de Paul Bendigo
Bendigo Community Health ServicesBendigo Health, HOPE program
ARC JusticeVictims of Crime, Bendigo
Lisa Chesters MPCentre for Non Violence
Annie NorthUniting Bendigo
Salvation Army Bendigo CorpsAnglicare
John Bomford CentreHaven; Home, Safe
Bendigo & District Aboriginal Cooperative Services Australia
Bendigo Volunteer Resource CentreBendigo Advertiser
Beechworth Bakery Bendigo
Our Funders &Community Partners
Funders
Community Partners
The Frances and Harold Abbott FoundationThe Flora and Frank Leith Charitable Trust
The Alfred Felton BequestANZ Seeds of Renewal
La Trobe University Bendigo
SFFSGood Shepherd Australia New Zealand
Department of Social Services, AustralianGovernment
Helen Macpherson Smith TrustThe Ross Trust
Greater Shepparton City Council
Coles BendigoBute Utes
Share the DignityKnit one Give OneFoodbank Victoria
Bendigo Foodshare
SFFSFamily care
Community Information & Support Victoria Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative
Shepparton FoodshareWellways
Greater Shepparton FoundationFoodlink Shepparton
Foodbank VictoriaEthnic Council of Shepparton & District Inc.
Salvocare Shepparton CorpsBeyond Housing
St. Vincent De PaulUniting SheppartonMarian Community
The Bridge Youth ServicePrimary Care Connect
Shepparton South Community Centre