Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter get new admin room thanks to kind tradies and businesses
Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter has helped more than 450 women escaping violence or struggling with addiction or mental health issues. Now the organisation which has supported so many has received help itself from some “good blokes”.
Manly
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Since the women’s shelter on the northern beaches opened nearly 10 years ago it has provided crisis accommodation for 450 people in desperate need.
The increasing demand has seen the administration staff squashed in one of the bedrooms.
But now the six part-time staff have moved into a converted double garage on the property, freeing up an extra bedroom.
The new admin headquarters also provides a space for counselling or activities such as yoga or arts and crafts.
The work was done in-kind by local tradies and businesses.
JDV Projects — who oversaw the renovation — put out a call for help and companies including Hardware and General, Airtech Air Conditioning and Northern Beaches Consulting engineers not hesitating.
Jacqui Leonard, manager of the shelter said the tradies and supply companies donated an estimated $120,000 of labour and materials to convert a double garage into a new admin space.
“It’s been an amazing transformation,” she said.
“We want to thank all the good blokes and tradies who helped.”
She said the women’s shelter had the support of a couple of family trusts and a small amount of funding from Northern Beaches Council but otherwise volunteers were out there shaking cans.
All the funds go to supporting women who have suffered domestic violence, or have health issues, addiction or financial problems.
Ms Leonard said 30 to 40 per cent of women had experienced domestic violence, 30 per cent had health issues, 20 per cent addiction problems and 20 per cent were in debt or financial trouble. Many have more than one issue they are dealing with.
She said without the kindness of those who gave their time and supplies for free they would not have been able to have had the upgrade.
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JDV Projects Managing Director Jason DeVos said the shelter asked how far they could stretch their limited budget to create a new dedicated office environment allowing them to free-up additional crisis accommodation.
“We hatched an even better idea. Our Mission quickly became, ‘You keep your funds raised for the operations of the shelter and helping those in need, we will see if we can deliver the project for you at no cost’,” he said.
The home cannot be identified because it houses many women who have escaped violent partners.