The Readings Foundation has announced $93,000 worth of grants to support a range of projects and organisations within Victoria in 2016.

The Readings Foundation grant funding in 2016 will focus strongly on organisations that provide targeted grassroots assistance with literacy and education to the most disadvantaged Victorian communities. The Foundation will also support two projects working with Indigenous communities in Victoria.

The Readings Foundation received 63 applications this year, and is proud to award grants to the following seven organisations:

3081 Angels ($10,000)

3081 Angels aims to improve the early literacy of children in West Heidelberg by providing access to quality books and online learning programs, story time sessions and training for parents to read and engage confidently in pre-reading activities with children. A 3081 ‘Literacy Angels’ volunteer team will work closely with community organisations, maternal and child health agencies, schools and libraries in the area to deliver their program to children and families that are generationally and educationally disadvantaged.

Brotherhood of St Laurence ($11,750)

The Brotherhood of St Laurence will provide reading, storytelling, group play and books to the 130 children and their families (including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers) that participate in the Fitzroy and North Melbourne HIPPY (Home Interaction for Parents and Youngsters) programs.

Church of All Nations ($18,000)

The Church of All Nations’ Carlton Family Learning Program will continue an after-school program for students P-12, and in 2016 extend to an adult literacy program, holiday program, Transition To School pre-school program and specialist tertiary volunteers. The Family Learning Program assists many residents of the Carlton Housing Estates, and first and second generation Australians from the Horn of Africa and other immigrant communities.

Mallee Family Care ($20,000)

Reading Discovery is an early intervention preschool program that targets marginalised families in Mildura to improve language and literacy. Parents and volunteers work as partners in the program learning through reading books, nursery rhymes, singing, and ‘story play’, an activity that that turns story telling into imaginary play. School readiness and resilience building within families remains key aims of this project.

Melbourne Indigenous Transition School ($8,250)

Melbourne Indigenous Transition School will build a library of books, resources and teaching materials for their innovative program that is aimed at increasing school achievement for remote and regional Indigenous students. Remote and regional students from the Northern Territory and Victoria will benefit as they transition from home communities to classrooms in high-performing schools across Melbourne. MITS will also work with their partner schools to ensure culturally inclusive materials are available for their students.

Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education ($20,000)

Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education will provide an English language class for asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Somalia living in the local area. The group will develop their English language skills with a qualified teacher, and receive meals, public transport and other support.

Victorian Indigenous Literary Festival ($5,000)

The Victorian Indigenous Literary Festival will be presented in partnership with the First Nations Australia Writers Network and The Wheeler Centre Resident Organisations. The Festival will be an important step in developing and advocating for stronger Indigenous representation within Victoria’s literary programming. This is an opportunity to put Indigenous voices and storytelling at the forefront of literary programming within Victoria for 2016 and beyond, and place an Indigenous representative inside Victoria’s pre-eminent hub of literary activity.

The Wheeler Centre

In addition to the seven organisations listed above, The Readings Foundation will also continue its support of the Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowships in 2016. Established in 2012 with significant support from The Readings Foundation, this program creates opportunities for talented writers by enabling them to pursue their writing at a dedicated desk at the Wheeler Centre for ten weeks, supported by a $1,000 stipend for each writer.

Established by Readings’ managing director Mark Rubbo in 2009, The Readings Foundation assists Victorian organisations that support the development of literacy, community integration and the arts.

Readings donates 10% of its overall profit to The Readings Foundation each year, and the kind donations from Readings’ customers make a crucial contribution.

Find out more about The Readings Foundation here.